Heathcote flooding

Press, 4 August 1977, Page 16

Heathcote flooding

Sir, — Patrick Sheehan (“The Press,” August 2) has pointed out that attempts to control Heathcote River flooding by the Woolston Cut will be doomed to failure. A total ecological plan is being avoided. What is needed is to treat the cause, not the effect. Looked at in its eq&rety, the

Heathcote River has a close relationship with the sea and the Port Hills. Silting at the mouth is caused through excessive run-off. To reduce run-off, there must be extended planting of the Port Hills, vegetation belts along the river banks, better control of vegetation removal on hill slopes, more stringent controls on building permits in hill areas, a reduction of high-density housing on the hills, increased replanting of eroded areas, and removal of silt from the mouth of the river. With better drainage on the flat, the ecological imbalance would be corrected if these measures were carried out. — Yours, etc., PETER LOVE. August 3, 1977.