Land Protection Work In South Westland Criticised

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1947, Page 8

Land Protection Work In South Westland Criticised

Criticism of the manner in which the Westland Catchment Board was dealing with erosion iri South Westfind #as voiced fiy'a member of the Westfind County -Council, Cr Dpnovanj on Tuesday. During, a discussion on/wh"etfibr lhe board' shotild fie given control over water-courses in the county, Cr Donovan said that they should take over only “if they are going to’do the work.” ’ ■ Pointing out that damage to lands is being brought about by Tetaho creek, at Wataroa, Cr Donovan stated that he had known the creek for 50 years and had- agitated that controlling works’ be constructed ' there. The matter had been placed in the hands of the Catchment Board and the County Council had paid a subsidy for The proposed work,' but nothing had been done. In the meantime the creek was a destructive menace. He did npf Think that control of creeks should be handed to the Catchment Board if they were not going to cto anything.' Cr Cr? Rowley (a member of the Catchment Board) said that he did not think Cr Donovan had been fair to the Catchment Board. He could name four major ■ jobs which the Catchment Board bad done in Westland: Hari Hari, Wataroa, Waitahu and Kolterangi rivers. He had learned that the Tetaho creek job had not been started and he was amazed, he He. had mentioned the matter to the Catchment Board’s Engineer who had stated that the board was studying the matter. They wanted to see what the Tetaho creek would do.

Cr Donovan: “I know what it will do if you leave it.” Cr Rowley said that the engineer had stated the job would be started immediately. After further discussion it was decided to leave the matter of whether the council wished to retain control of any waterways to the country engineer (Mr J. C. Clarke) who was to make a report. A sub-committee was formed to meet the Catchment Board when it made a tour of inspection of the Westland waterways in the near future, the sub-committee to discuss the matter of control and administration with the Catchment Board.