Akaroa gives in to board

Press, 4 May 1978, Page 28

Akaroa gives in to board

One of the last areas on Banks Peninsula to hold out against the North Canterbury Catchment Board has ’apitulated. A deeply divided Akaroa bounty Council voted five to hree at its monthly meeting o come within the jurisdiction of the Catchment loard.

The only part of the Pennsuia now outside the ward’s umbrella is Mount Herbert County. Its' council :o far has given little indication that'it has seriously considered joining. Lyttelton Borough last /ear agreed to come under he Catchment Board after Mounting controversy about soil erosion in its council’s irea.

The Catchment Board is he only body empowered to

r impose mandatory soil and water conservation measures. It also provides skill in soil and water managemenf and can grant, reafforestation subsidies However, many Akaroa firmers have remained very, douibtful about the need to come under the Catchment Board. The Akaroa Council members for the Okatis Bay, Pigeon Bay, and 4karoa ridings all voted igainst the move because, tjiey said, a large majority of their constituents opposedjoining. Cr R. K. Qlaw, from Okains Bay, said ipe rang all his constituents ‘about the matter. Five for joining, four were ‘undecided, and the rest against. Anyway, he said, tre6 subsidies were available frtm other sources.