Council seeks action on Estuary

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32880, 1 April 1972, Page 1

Council seeks action on Estuary

The City Engineer (Mr P. G. Scoular) would have a plan for the over-all improvement of the Estuary before the end of April, and it would be referred to the City Council and the Christchurch Drainage Board, said the Mayor (Mr N. G. Pickering) yesterday.

“I am disappointed at the statement by the Drainage Board on Wednesday that more information will be required from the hydraulic research station at Wallingford, England,” said Mr Pickering

“I think that the people of Christchurch are tired of waiting for some action in getting improvements to the stuary started. “The Drainage Board is concerned with the better drainage of the Estuary and the alleviation of flooding. But this is only one facet of improving the Estuary.” He said that Mr Scoular’s

plan would embrace the dredging of the Estuary, land reclamation, forestry and protection of wildlife.

Meeting last year “Officers of the City Coun. cil and the Drainage Board, including the Drainage Board’s chief engineer (Mr P. J. McWilliam) and Mr Scoular. met before Christmas to discuss over-all improvements to the Estuary. Minutes of that meeting were given to the Drainage Board, but apparently the meeting has not been discussed by the board members in open meeting,” Mr Pickering said. “The board members should be aware of my instructions to the City Council

engineers’ department to draw up an over-all plan for the Estuary. “The Wallingford report has apparently not yet been released to the public, but many persons have read it. It is no secret that the report states that dredging of the whole of the Estuary is not necessary for better drain, age. The report recommends dredging of the low-water channels of the Heathcote and Avon rivers for improved drainage. “But the report says that over-all dredging of the Estuary will not harm floodrelief Work it suggests, and this is important from the over-all point of view. Council’s interest “Drainage to alleviate flooding is the primary interest of the drainage board; other improvements are the main concern of the City Council. Dredging of perhaps two-thirds of the Estuary, land reclamation and tree planting would give an improved environment, eliminate smells, be to the advantage of water sports, and generally would make the Estuary a much more attractive and pleasurable area for the people of Christchurch. "The Estuary at present is a bit of an eyesore and it is silting up badly in places. Labour councillors want some positive action—the Wallingford business has dragged on for years. The Drainage Board knows that we are preparing a landscape plan for the improvement of McCormack Bay—a real eyesore that has existed for years and is getting worse. “We are determined to make a start on sorelyneeded improvements. We are arranging a meeting with the Minister of Works (Mr Allan) to discuss works needed for improvements,” said Mr Pickering.