Woolston Cut loan rejection deplored

Press, 2 April 1980, Page 6

Woolston Cut loan rejection deplored

Narrow “cost-accounting procedures” are not applicable to projects such as the Woolston Cut channel, according to the Labour; member of Parliament for: Lyttelton (Mrs Ann Hercus). I Mr£ Hercus, was respond-] ing toftth-. announcement on i Monday that the Local Authorities Loans Board had rejected the Christchurch i Drainage Board’s application ; for a loan for the Woolston i Cut flood-control channel. The loan was rejected be : causej it did not meet .a re- i quirement for a 15 per cent ; return, ft rhe' District Commissioner;< of Works (Mr P. F. Rey-h noldsj told a meeting of the ‘ Christchurch Drainage Board il that the $2.6 million channel I; project would. protect only a ft small number of houses. h Mrs.;'Hereto said it was! “virtually impossible” toil carry lout a cost-versus-bene-fit study fo- this ■ type of i urbanjftft flood relief.; -Tl.ift Drainage Board had admitted!; this, she said.; ? •< She asked what figure the Ministry of Works and j ’ Development put‘on the dis-.’ tress ftpf theft- occupants of i < houses that were, Between 170 and 180 home- 1 owners had had their pro-: perties/flooded several times L in the last five years. ■ The-flooding caused long- J term damage to the founda--*

tions of houses and shops, to roads, and to sewerage and storm-water systems. , Mrs Hercus-’ also asked ’what figures the Ministry ihad put on the difficulties of families and elderly citizens who were cut off from road access during flooding. “I am extremely concerned that the Ministry" does not appear to comprehend the extend and seriousness of the Heathcote River flooding and drainage problems, particularly i tne misery faced by many,” said Mrs Hercus. The Woolston Cut was ; only one “crucial” stage in a i plan for drainage improve- ! ment and flood protection ifor the area from Hoon Hay Through to the mouth of the; i Heathcote River It must be I [proceeded with, she said. < ! Without the loan, the only] other possibilities -were! “massjve” increases in rates j or deferment of the project.] Costs would increase each] [year the scheme was put] off, she said. ' • Mrs Hercus said she had written to the Minister of .Works (Mr W. L. Young) asking for a . full report explaining why the application had been turned down. ' ', The Woolston Cut project weuld also , create valuable jobs in Christchurch, she said. '. . ■ '■<