Forget the rules M.P. urges

Press, 7 July 1977, Page 6

Forget the rules M.P. urges

member of Pariii went for Christchurch Central tMr B. G. Barclay) vesterday called on the Government and local authorities to forget bureaucratic rules and get together to provide effecthe recent severe flooding areas. ' Lyttelton Borough included in the North Canterbury Catchment Board s area for soil conservation and water management works. Therefore, apparently they do not qualify for the technical and financial assistance for erosion and flood control works This is bureaucratic nonsense What on earth does it matter who official! has runsdiction, and who provides the help, as long as effective and immediate assistance is given. People who have had their homes flooded, and their sections ruined, couldn’t care less. All they want is action,” “I’m not prepared to fomment on an irresponsible statement like that by Mr Barclay. He’s probably more of an expert on bureaucratic nonsense than I am.” said the chairman of the North Canterbury Catchment Board (Dr W. R. Holmes) last night.

“The issues are straight forward: as far as I am concerned, this is not an area which is within the responsibility of my board.

“We have been deliberately excluded from responsibility in the Akaroa and Lyttelton areas by the quite clear decision of the people of those areas, who have said not only do they not want us in. but they positively want us out. on two occasions.”

Dr Holmes said the local bodies were responsible for cleaning-up work in their areas. The board was

responsible only for longterm planning and flood control work. Apparently there have been little old ladies ringing the board up and saying ‘can you fix this up?” he said. That was not the board’s job, said Dr Holmes. The chairman of the Akaroa County Council (Mr T. J Brocherie) said his council had had discussions with the catchment board about joining its area four months ago. but a decision had not been made. Regarding the recent troubles, he said they had been caused by exceptionally heavy rain. "Whether we could get protection from these sorts of floods is questionable. Some parts of the peninsula have had 69cm of rain since May. and others 41cm in the two days of the storm. The hills became so soaked with water I don’t know what sort of protection could have been given.” he said.

Mr Brocherie said it was the fourth consecutive winter with severe flooding. and that the peninsula had never before experienced such conditions. “We have a number of mature trees that have gone out this time.”

The Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr J. B. Collett) said he could not comment on Mr Barclay’s remarks until he had time to discuss them with the Town Clerk and members of the council. The Minister of Works and Development (Mr Young) yesterday clarified the catchment board’s role in providing flood relief. He said Christchurch residents should look to their territorial local body representatives for guidance in repair work and cleaning up from the recent floods, but the North Canterbury’ Catchment Board would plan and

carry out long-term solutions to the problem. The Minister said this yesterday following an interpretation that the catchment board itself would be involved in repair work.

“The role of the North Canterbury Catchment Board is to design comprehensive long-term flood prevention schemes,” said Mr Young. “Proposals would then require agreement from the local ratepaying community, and arrangements for local funding, before being submitted for consideration of the Government share in the cost of eligible works. “Such action could well result from the recent flood emergency in and around Christchurch. Regarding immediate cleaning up and repairs, territorial local authorities in each area will be discharging their own responsibilities to their ratepayers. “I would emphasise that the catchment board’s technical and financial assistance is limited to long-term planning proposals,” said Mr Young.

Meanwhile, the member of Parliament for Lyttelton (Miss Colleen Dewe) has arranged a visit from an engineer from the Earthquake and War Damage Commission. An engineer from the commission head office in Wellington will visit Christchurch next week to advise Lyttelton residents about their storm-damaged properties. Miss Dewe said she had had talks with the commission to arrange the visit. She has asked that all residents who have been affected by landslips, and wish to avail themselves of the engineer’s advice, ring her in Wellington at Ph. 738-288 (collect), or ring Mrs J. Miller, Motukarara 812, before July 9.