Drainage Board issues similar to last election

Press, 6 October 1980, Page 17

Drainage Board issues similar to last election

Christchurch Drainage Board issues remain basically the same as thev were three years ago. Labour Party members have pushed unsuccessfully for the inclusion of Heathcote River floodgates as part of an over-all flood relief scheme for the river’s largely urbaa catchment. The board has also been urged by Labour members to seek special flood-con-trol subsidies from the Government.

Both sides have supported the Woolston Cut flood channel project that has yet to obtain a Local Authorities Loans Board sanction, but some members have argued that much more work, apart from the channel, is needed along the river to bring flood levels down. There has been criticism of hillside residential ' development’s being allowed before drainage systems are adequate to stormwater runoff from them. - Some board members also argued for more clear-cut boundaries between the responsibilities of local authorities for ■drainage matters.

Mrs Marianne Alderdice

Bank officer. Toastraistress: two children.

More women should come forward to be heard on local issues.

The Drainage Board should be hurried along on the Woolston Cut project, and there should be more subsidies for river flood control; Studies should be done on greater use of sewage by-products.

Mr R. H. Arbuckle

[(Citizens)

City councillor, garage proprietor. Combined Estuary Committee, Civic Music Council, Salvation Army member.

His council experience would be helpful in co-or-dinating activities bewteen the two local bodies. The Woolston Cut project would help alleviate flooding in that river catchment. But he wants closer scrutiny of the project. There should be closer liaison between local bodies to avoid duplication of functions. Mrs Denise Arps (Labour)

Sitting member, mother of two. “A bold approcah” to drainage problems must be made by the board. Many areas plagued by bad drainage were only given excuses. There should be comprehensive plans for the three catchments that con--trolled the city’s drainage. “These rivers can no longer cope with the stormwater we demand it to accept,” Mrs Arps said. People should play a more important role in decision-making. “At present, they are regarded as a troublesome nuisance,” she said. Under a Labour board, residents would be consulted at all stages of planning. Mrs Arps is also standing as a Labour candidate for the City Council in the West Ward. There had been little or no consultation with ward residents before decisions were made. Suburban child care facilities were needed there, especially in Papanui and Merivale, and facilities could be used to provide after-school care for children of working parents. Mr D. S. Bowie [(Labour)

Auto diesel engineer, qualified in fitting, turning and machinery, sports clubs positions. Building development must not be allowed to occur ahead of drainage works.

To prevent pollution of waterways, even swimming pool discharges should go into the sewer system for treatment. There should be a way to reduce the amount of water going into the sewer system. Mr B. V. Brickie (Citizens)

Retail engineer, Christchurch East Rotary Club, president Bexley Residents’ Association, Central New Brighton Neighbourhood Committee. There should be further riverbank improvements along the lower reaches of the Avon to protect adjacent properties. There should be study of the Bexley landfill to determine, along with the City Council, further improvements there. A continual survey of the Estuary should be done to stop pollution there.

Mrs Judith Bruce

(Citizens)

Past president Jaycee wives’ group, Citizens’ Association committee; member, Waimairi Tennis Club, Avonside Garden Club, Royal Academy of Dancing. Women on the Drainage Board could contribute much to its management and administration. It had been predominantly a man’s realm for many years.

City concerns should not be governed by a poll-* tically-motivated party.

Mr M. R. Carter

(Citizens)

Drainage Board chairman, member 23 years, city councillor, contractor. The board had started the planning and construction of major stormwater relief projects in recent years, and they would be implemented urgently. Completed projects included stormwater work in many parts of Waimairi

County, Sumner mair drain piping and the Dud iey Creek diversion. One main project hac been upgrading of ths Bromley sewage treatmen plant. Mr Frank Chisholm (Independent)

Waimairi County councillor, former farmer, retired. Mr Chisholm would bring “a lifetime of experience in drainage and the fickleness of rivers and their moods” to the board. He was concerned about the cleanliness of suburban streams and avoiding pollution of underground water supplies. A common-sense approach was needed in overcoming drainage problems, and the Woolston Cut project was at the centre of the most important problem area. Mr G. B. Collie

.(Citizens)

Registered engineer, district manager Electricity Division of Ministry of Energy, Waitaki Catchment Commission 1970 to 1975, member Upper Clutha development liaison committee.

He did not want to get involved in controversies at this stage because drainage programmes — apart from emergency work — had to relate to practical funding limits. He had studied the board’s statutory background and its methods of financing its activities, and would contribute his practical administrative experience as a board member.

Mr M. J. Dobson (Labour)

University of Canterbury extension department, sitting board member. Harbour Board member, various Labour Party offices.

The board had to face up to carrying out some extensive and comprehensive flood control schemes, and that responsibility had not always been faced by a Citizens Board. Until work on the Heathcote River was done properly, no further development in the catchment —

including the Port Hills — s y ou 1 d be contemplated. The board should pressure the Government for special subsidies to carry out some of the expensive capital w’orks needed.

Mr Newton Dodge '(Citizens)

Sitting board member, city councillor, Venetian blind manufacturer, St Albans Residents Association. Mr Dodge supports an extension to the Dudley Creek diversion project to relieve more surface flooding in that part of the city.

He would press for early completion of the Woolston Cut, and encourage financial help for resident and community groups to help them better represent their areas on drainage matters.

Mr J. G. Freeman

(Labour)

Teacher, M.A. degree from University of Canterbury. He would promote im-i piementation of the Wall-

ingford Hydraulics Research Station report on city flooding, which showed a way to relieve tidal and river flooding, partly through the use of floodgates. There should be greater Government subsidies for flood control because of unique problems here.

Mr A. Kahi (Labour)

Transport Board employee. The North Canterbury Catchment Board should take over the Drainage Board’s drainage activities, and soil conservation and rivers control in Lyttelton, Mount Herbert and Akaroa counties.

Effluent-producing industries should be examined to determine whether their discharges could lead to disease in people, domestic animals or wildlife.

Pollution of the Estuary from industrial-plant discharges should be stopped.

Mr H. Kerrie (Labour)

Department supervisor, brushware plant, Growers Committee opposing rural changes in Waimairi district scheme.

It was not good for the Drainage Board to deal with surface water and flooding problems piecemeal. There should be a combined study of the region by the board, Catchment Board, Ministry of Works and local councils so that a group approach could be made to the Government for extra financial aid.

The proposed Belfast sewage treatment plant must be strictly controlled to ensure that inconvenience suffered by neighbours of the Bromley plant was not repeated. Mr M. P. J. Knox (Labour) Bar manager, past executive member Woollen Workers Union, a former secretary Sumner Residents’ Association.

Many past mistakes could have been alleviated by closer liaison between

the Drainage Board and Catchment Board. The Labour “back to basics” approach to drainage problems should be successful, Mr Knox said. One of his main interests was protection of wetlands.

Mr A. R. McLachlan (Citizens)

Rest home manager, elder Knox Presbyterian Church, Canterbury Employers Association, chairman

Richmond School Committee.

The board had dealt with many flooding problems already, and there would be further improvements. There was little need to change policy over the next three years. But there should be more progress on the Woolston Cut. and the Government should make low-interest loans available for such projects. Mr R. Stewart (Labour)

V i c e-chairman Shirley branch Labour Party, member St Albans Labour Electorate Committee.

Poor planning did not foresee that drains in New Brighton Road would not be large enough to cope with water coming through them from Horseshoe Lake after the Dudley Creek diversion was completed, and part of the road collapsed.

Correct planning was most important in times of high inflation. Neighbourhood committees were important for the passing on of ideas to elected local-body members.

Mr H. W. Thompson (Citizens)

Barrister and solicitcr, sitting board member. Mr Thompson has been impressed over the years by actions of board workers in emergency storm and pollution situations. One of the greatest problems he has found “is to educate the public on what it is possible to do and not possible to do.” Many stormwater problems could be alleviated but not cured, at least at a cost the district could afford. Rates were already unreasonably high, and a few persons thought they could get private problem's fixed at public expense “if they make a loud enough noise,” he said.

Mr T. B. Whelan (Citizens)

Sitting member, former principal of Ham School, retired, board works committee chairman.

Mr Whelan would support the continued upgrading of the Riccarton Main Drain, which would take several years to complete. He would also encourage a start on the first stage of 11am Drain upgrading, scheduled for 1953.

He had always supported major flood-relief projects, those alreadycompleted and those still being planned.

“The Press” did not receive information on drainage issues from Mrs Denise Arps, Labour; Mr A. Bamford (Citizens). Mr B. J. Corkran (Labour), Mi; J. F. Davidson (Labour). Mr T. O. Gough (Citizens), Mr J. de C. Hanafin (Citizens), Mr R. Price (Citizens), or Mr P. Ruka (Labour).

'———in Local body candidates