Board looks at better flood-warning system

Press, 31 May 1986, Page 2

Board looks at better flood-warning system

The North Canterbury Catchment Board is looking at an improved floodwarning system in the light of the recent South Canterbury floods. The operations’ manager, Mr B. P. Dwyer, proposed at a meeting of the board’s operations committee yesterday a rainfall surveillance system involving the public and Civil Defence. He said the board would have a vital role to play in a flood.

“The Catchment Board would be the first to be aware if there was a flood situation,” he said.

He suggested that about 100 voluntary observers would be needed throughout Canterbury to measure rainfall and alert Civil Defence when it was unusually heavy. Mr Dwyer estimated

that the size of an area’s river catchment would mean some areas could tolerate heavy' rain for longer periods than others.

“In Canterbury it would generally need to be in the order of 15mm to 20mm an hour for more than two or three hours,” he said.

He said the new system would not duplicate the Meteorological Office’s existing network. Volunteers working for the office measured daily rainfall totals, but not rainfall intensity. “A system of rainfall surveillance which would provide a reliable and quick method for assessing the probable floodproducing capabilities of any particular rainfall would be a valuable means of alerting local

territorial authorities, the Catchment Board, the police and Civil Defence,” the proposal said. The new system would be controlled by Civil Defence with co-operation from the board.

South Canterbury’s flood damage has affected the board’s Government funding.

In December the board asked for $1,756,000 for catchment works for the next year and has been allocated $1,550,000.

The boad’s chairman, Mr Richard Johnson, said the situation was very tight.

“The recent events in South Canterbury and North. Otago have meant that funds meant for new works this year are going to be used in restoration works down there,” Mr Johnson said.