River scheme on agenda

Press, 3 June 1981, Page 6

River scheme on agenda

The proposed Halswell River flood-relief scheme will come under further scrutiny on ■ Tuesday , when North Canterbury Catchment Board members and Ministry of Agriculture representatives will meet to discuss it. A report on the scheme which was prepared by Mr S. M. Hadfield, of the Economics Division of the Ministry of Agriculture. wa> presented to the Nortl Canterbury Catchmen' Board's rivers control am drainage committee las March, and will'be discusse, at the meeting. Mr Hadfield said th scheme would be uneconomi.. because the returns did not

meet the Treasury’s 10 per cent rate of return guideline. The scheme would cost $1.4 million but- about $200,000 of this would cater for urban water-demand peaks and was not brought into the report. The rate of return would be 6.9 per cent, he said. The board's rivers control and drainage committee decided yesterday to discuss the report with Mr Hadfield. According to a board member. Mr R. B. Johnson, the report should be revised. The report heeded to be extended to cover further aspects, which could show the scheme in a better light, he said.