Woolston Loop tidy-up call

Press, 24 September 1987, Page 39

Woolston Loop tidy-up call

Christchurch Drainage Board staff will be directed to report on work needed to improve the polluted Woolston Loop, the board’s development and construction committee has decided. A board member, Mr Brian Whelan, sought other members views on what priority should be given a clean-up of the area. The loop is the area of the Heathcote River cut off by the Woolston Cut, a 600 m channel dug to relieve flooding. Mr Ron Wright said the improvements would take time but he hoped localy people would get behind the initiative taken by local bodies and help improve the area. “The Woolston Loop is a blot on our garden city

and a place you would be embarrassed for visitors to see,” he said. Improvements would be done with the Christchurch City Council which is responsible for the riverbanks. The possible role of river wardens and community groups in helping with improvements was discussed. The board’s chief engineer, Mr Peter Hunt, said there was some indication that businesses in the area were taking a more responsible attitude in disposing of waste. Some had previously tipped it straight into the Heathcote River he said. Mr Rex Arbuckle said reading changes planned for the area might act as a catalyst to improvements.