Waimak. f loods Caused $3000 Damage To Banks

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31542, 2 December 1967, Page 14

Waimak. f loods Caused $3000 Damage To Banks

A fortnight’s freshes culminating in a flood at the beginning of this week had caused about $3OOO damage to protective works on the Waimakariri River, the Chief Engineer (Mr E. B. Dalmer) told the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday. Mr Dalmer said that there had beeen 52in of rain for the month at Arthur’s Pass. The flood reached a peak of 52,400 cusecs, and had damaged the bank at Engelbrecht’s, four miles above the traffic bridge, and an unfinished groyne-head on the south bank. Mr J. M. Pickering said the river was tending back to the right-hand bank Immediately below the gorge bridge, and tree-planting would be advisable to complement rock protection there. Mr L. F. Wright urged rock protection for the stream’s low-flow channel, instead of tree-planting, and said that the board should have a stockpile of rock or concrete blocks.

Selwyn Bank.—No funds were available for this type of work, the rivers control committee reported, on a request from the Selwyn Hut Owners’ Association for the removal of long-standing heaps of spoil on the Selwyn River below the huts.

Silting.—Mr R. Monk drew attention to silting of the lagoon exit at Brooklands, and said that it was within 25 to 50 yards of being closed at low water.

Preservation.—ln agreeing to a farm soil conservation plan for the Aorangl Estate.

Ataahua, the board required an undertaking that, in the interests of soil conservation, about 100 acres of native forest would not be cut.