FLOODS STUDY AT HALSWELL

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33883, 1 July 1975, Page 18

FLOODS STUDY AT HALSWELL

The flooding of the Halswell River on June 15 and 16 was the subject of letters from Lansdowne Valley and Otahuna Valley residents read at a meeting of the North Canterbury Catchment Board’s rivers control and drainage committee meeting yesterday.

The board’s deputy chief engineer (Mr B. P. Dwyer) reported that flooding in the Halswell drainage district was the most severe experienced for many years. The chief engineer (Mr J. A. MacDonald) said that in 1954 the board had proposed a scheme for improving the Halswell River “right through” and for improving the drainage pattern, but the scheme was not proceeded

with: at an estimated cost of £177,000, the people of the district felt that it was too costly. Dr W. R. Holmes said that if any work was done it had; to “start at the bottom and work up.” The board should not spend time and money! on individual drains, particularly in the upper areas,; before attending to matters 1 at the Lake Ellesmere end. “The people up the top end have got to realise that this! ;is a whole river problem,”: said Dr Holmes, adding that' (whatever work was done {could have an impact on I some other aspect of the area. For instance, improving the, drainage would lessen the amount of water around in the winter, but it would also make the area drier in | summer. The committee agreed that; {members of the staff should i study specific suggestions made in the residents’ letters, consider alternative; {proposals, and update the {1954 scheme costs to put to 'residents at a meeting to be i arranged.