New Brighton flood relief

Press, 15 October 1976, Page 18

New Brighton flood relief

A project to relieve hightide flooding in Brighton Terrace — near the Avon below the Pages Road bridge — has been proposed by the Christchurch Drainage Board.

Relief pumps would start working when water in the street, and in Evans Avenue, reached the top of the proposed kerb. In the long term however, said a board report, the best solution would be to raise the land above the high tide level when properties were re-developed. People in the area have been pressing the City Council for flood relief since 1971. They complained earlier this year that new council pensioner housing in Brighton Terrace would only make the problem worse. The Drainage Board report said a $15,500 overflow pumping scheme could “keep ponding to an acceptable level.” Valved outfall improvements were needed to reduce the tidal flooding risk.

Priority of the project will be determined by the council’s reconstruction of both streets. Drainage work will be done just before the reconstruction.