Labour attack over flooding

Press, 17 August 1977, Page 13

Labour attack over flooding

Criticism of Christchurch local bodies for their attitude to the danger of flooding from the Heathcote River has been voiced by a Labour Party spokesman, Mr R. Mitchell. Mr Mitchell is a spokesman for the party’s candidates in the North Canterbury Catchment Board elections later this year. "The business-as-usual attitude of some local bodies and developers in arranging to increase stormwater run-off even while its recipients are still drying out from last month’s floods, is incredibly self-seeking,” he said. He referred to a recommendation from the Heathcote County Council’s town planning committee concern-

ing 45 new sections on Hunts’ bury Hill. A developer planned a new township on Worslevs Spur in Paparua County overlooking what looked like a lakebed, he added.

In the meantime the Christchurch Drainage Board was telling householders in Opawa and Woolston whose sections were still half under water, that it could only give them advice. Mr Mitchell said that a petition to the Catchment Board and the Drainage Board asking for subdivision to be stopped until the extra run-off could be eliminated would be available at the Industries Fair this week.