Water Off Hills “Major Problem” In City Area

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 17

Water Off Hills “Major Problem” In City Area

Checking the run-off water from the hills was the greatest problem facing the Christchurch metropolitan area, said Mr L. W. McCaskill, when the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday discussed a request from the Sumner Residents’ Association for an investigation into ways to reduce the Sumner flood problem.

He said he wondered what advice had been given to the Christchurch Drainage Board and the councils concerned as to what was to be done to cope with the increasing amounts of storm-water that were being discharged into the Heathcote and Styx watersheds as a result of new subdivisions.

“It Is really a shocking story—the amount of land plastered with roofs, tarsealed roadways and gutters,” said Mr McCaskill. “The problem is going to become worse. Every member of the Regional Planning Authority, and every councillor, if they all became King Canutes, cannot stop the tide coming in, and the water will continue to run off the hills at a greater rate.” Mr McCaskill said he bad seen no reference, after the Easter floods, to the problems that were posed by “this big and difficult catchment” It was not just a water problem, for a great amount of silt also was being washed off the bills. “This problem should be discussed with the drainage board, which should be reminded that this calls for catchment control, and cannot be stopped without it,” he said. The planning authority, he suggested, should plan a little

more carefully for just where the hills water was to go. Turning to Sumner, Mr McCaskill . said he Was familiar with the many problems of water control on the hills above the Sumner Valley. The public, for one thing, did not realise how much damage had been done by Second World War military works to the Sumner catchment. He recalled that in 1951 a joint committee had been set up between the catchment and drainage boards at a time when there were worries about the Heathcote River catchment. The committee made good progress and received a great deal of help and Information. But practical applications were not achieved because there was a feeling that the outcome of scientific investigations should be awaited.

Another meeting of the committee should have been held in 1953; but nothing happened.

The board agreed that its soil conservation and engineering staff should investigate and report back on the Sumner request.

The report could well be a first step towards action, said Mr J. M. Pickering.