Stopbanks for lower Avon

Press, 12 November 1981, Page 4

Stopbanks for lower Avon

An $804,000 stopbanking scheme is in the offing for the lower reaches of the Avon River. The Christchurch Drainage Board's development and construction committee yesterday voted to adopt the three-stage scheme, which will be finished in 1986. It is expected that the scheme will be approved by the board. 1 The lower reaches of the river flood New Brighton Road and nearby properties at very high tides and cause serious gorging of sewer pipelines by entering gully traps and manholes, according to a report on the proposed scheme. The stopbanking, with the pumping of ponded stormwater where necessary.

would prevent serious flooding at a considerably lower cost .?than . alternative schemes aimed at lowering water levels in the river, the report said. However, the proposal might not provide all the benefits of the other schemes, and the board would have to accept liability for damages if a stopbank faded, if warned beforehand that the bank was weak. . The committee's chairman, Mr T. B. Whelan, said that the banks would not spoil the view of the river or the surrounding areas because they w’ould be only knee-high or less.. A walkway will be made along the top of the stopbanks. and the area landscaped.