BIG RIVER EROSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1947, Page 10

BIG RIVER EROSION

EARLY START ON DIVERSION LIKELY CATCHMENT BOARD’S DECISION Subject to the payment of contributions by the Grey County Council and the settiers and the making of a grant by the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, the Westland Catchment Board will make an early start on protective works at Big River,, which have been the subject of lengthy negotiations. At its meeting at Greymouth this morning the board approved proposals submitted by its engineer, Mr. W. S. Ross, for the diversion of the river, estimated to cost £1330/17/-.

In his report, Mr. Ross stated that last year the Grey County Council received flood damage grants -to reinstate the road' and carry out control works on the river,, but owing to the delay in obtaining funds and carrying out the work,' further erosion and damage to land had occurred. In the report of April 8, 1946, the estimate for the work totalled £1242, of which the Soil Council was asked to contribute £516, leaving £726 to be found by the County Council and Public Works Department/ In the meantime the County Council was offered a subsidy of £1 for £2 on Big River works, for a total of £726. The balance apparently remaining to the County Council was £139 subsidy and £277 of county funds. There had also been an offer of £5O towards the work from the settlers affected. The total available from the Government County Council and the settlers was thus £466. Engineer’s Proposals. Mr. Ross submitted proposals for the control of the river, by diversion into its old channel, estimated to cost £1330/17/-, and suggested that the amounts held by the County Council for the Big River Road and the settlers-’ contribution be put towards these works (£466) and that the Soil Council be asked to find the remainder' The engineer also submitted proposals and estimates for future works which could be carried out in a fixed order as money became available and as the opportunity occurred. The estimate for the future work set out was £2099/6/-.

The secretary, Mr. H. Pyne, said that the engineer’s report had been placed before the works committee and its recommendation was that, provided the Grey County Council agreed to provide the £277 implied in the acceptance of the subsidy from the Public Works Department of £139, and that the settlers contributed £5O, the board should proceed to carry out the first stage of the work recommended by the engineer; provided that the Soil Council agreed to find the balance of £864, and that application be made to the Soil Council accordingly. Mr. E. F. Evans pointed out that what was proposed was roughly a subsidy of £3 for £1 on the money to be found by the County Council and the settlers and as its representative on the board he was prepared to recommend that the Soil Council should make the necessary grant. The chairman (Mr. F. F. Boustridge) pointed out that the settlers’ contribution was in connection with the first portion of the work only and any further work carried out later would be subject to further consideration. In reply to a question by Mr. J. Ryan, the chairman said that the settlers had already agreed, in writing, to find the £5O on a proportionate basis. On the motion of the chairman, the recommendation of the works committee was adopted. Waitangi Stop Bank. Advice was received by letter from Mr. Evans, as Resident Public Works Engineer, that the Soil Council had approved the proposed extensions to the stop bank on the south side of the Waitangi river (South Westland) and had consented .to the work being put in hand, provided that due consideration was given to the effect on the existing works. As soon as the agreed contributions were received it was intended to proceed with the work.

The works committee recommended that the settlers be asked to forward their contribution towards the cost of the works at once. In reply to a question, the chairman said that five settlers, had been asked to find £4lO among them and the’ Westland County Council had agreed to find a similar amount to the settlers. The recommendation of the works committee was adopted.