BIG RIVER EROSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1946, Page 8

BIG RIVER EROSION

ABANDONING OF ROAD DISCUSSED ENGINEERS TO CONFER THe' question': of' the erosion of Big River at- Atsravr. was’ again, discussed st this: morning’s' mfesting'. of the Grey County' Council members of which had- recently' inspected' the locality. A v - proposal to- form'- a new road on a terrace’ was-: held 1 over pending- discussions with visiting Soil Conservation' Council engineers with: the aim of arresting the liver’s encroachment on adjoining farmlands. , The chairman, Cr. J. W. Hannan; reporting on the visit to the At’arau said that councillors agreed with’ the? acting, engineer, Mr. H. E. Higgins; that' ai new road .should- be' formed’ on: the. terrace; Public Works _ Department, engineers' had a similar opinion; and? He- considered". that the council should' now find what portionof the cost of the work- would’ be borne by the department.

Local Bodies’ Difference.

“It seems a pity that because of a difference between the Catchment Board and the council we arc‘to spend'. £sooo' on a new road while the- land? of the farmers it is to serve will probably- be allowed to wash away,” said Cr. J. Mulcare. “Then there will be no need for the road, he- added; stating that he was mos; uneasy- about the- whole proposition. Cr; W. Fisher agreed, and. pointed out that already one farm was practically. isolated by the encroaching water. He--advised the" council that Messrs; W. L. N'ewnham and Grant, Soil Conservation Council engineers, would be visiting Greymouth next week.for the Catchment Board meeting; and suggested, that the position could- be discussed with; them. “The 1 new road iwill certainly be an inconvenience to the settlers,’ said Cr. R. Clark, who pointed out that new access roads would have to be formed by them. The new road would, he admitted, save the council a lot of expense.

Consideration Deferred.

Cr. Mulcare, suggesting that consideration of the proposal be deferred until the next meeting, said that discussions between the visiting engineers and the councils’ engineer would show whether any assistance was likely to be forthcoming from Wellington for the protection of the farms. He agreed that the Catchment Board would have to pay the bulk of the cost of protecting the land in the national interest. If the-work was done, the- council would repair the old road and keep it open. “I don’t think we would get a Public Works Department grant for the proposed new road,” said Cr. Fisher, pointing out that there were a number of other localities more badly in need 1 of access roads. “It certainly would be wise to see to what extent the Soil Council will provide 7 finance: for the erosion worn,” said Cr. Mulcare. The chairman commented that ne had been advised that effective river protection work could not be carried, out in the district, but added that d it could be managed the road should be left where it is. “We have an excellent case as we endeavoured to fix the. damage in the first place,” said Cr. Mulcare who added that the work was a national responsibility now. “It is a big decision to make whether we will abandon one. road and build another,” remarked the chairThe proposal was held over, the engineer to ascertain what conti ibution the Soil Conservation Council was likely to make.