HOKITIKA Flood Protection Issue: Request For Permanent Job

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1947, Page 9

HOKITIKA Flood Protection Issue: Request For Permanent Job

(0.C.) HOKITIKA, This Day. After discussing with the Hokitika Borough Council the Westland Catchment Board’s proposals for stop-banks on Gibson quay to protect the town from flooding, a public meeting at Hokitika last evening decided to oppose the scheme and, to ask the council to send a deputation to the Minister of Marine with a request that some permanent measure of protection or strengthening of the present retaining wall be instituted, It was also decided to canvass business people in the town to raise £5OO towards the cost of .the first scheme. Promises of assistance totalling nearly £2OO were rereceived at the meeting. The Westland Catchment Board had submitted a scheme to the Borough Council for stop-banks costing over £3OOO, and asked that the council and business people subscribe £lOOO towards the cost, the board to supply the remainder.

“Would be Futile”

.Mr AV. J. Radford said he thought that if anything was done it should be a substantial job. A wall on top of the ground would be futile. Mr J. N. Robinson described the plan submitted by the Catchment Board. He said he thought it was only an expedient. Mr J. Truman said that the £lOOO required from the council and the business people was for a temporary measure and should be gone on with so that the town would not be caught while something of a more permanent nature was put under way. Mr D. Pettigrew, a member of the Catchment Board, explained the procedure of the Catchment Board. The whole district, including the borough ratepayers, was levied for the administration of the board.

. Mr A. Hill suggested that a deputation meet the new Minister of Marine with a view to having permanent protection work done. It was a national problem and £3OO would not by any means cover work of any real value.

Mr Mitchell asked why the business people should be asked to carry the £5OO. They had suffered heavy losses already 'and the cost should be carried by the whole community. Mr G. Howe said the north wall was the only check to the river cutting through the north beach and attacking the town from the sea side. Several members considered the small scheme submitted was “throwing money away.” They thought the matter should be looked at from the national point of view. Mr Jeffries suggested that the large fund available for earthquake relief should be available for other urgent disasters. He supported the idea of a deputation.

Use of Quarry Rock

Mr Pt. Lindsay gave details of the interview with Mr R. Trevor Smith; the Public Works Department engineer who inspected the river after the iast flood. He had suggested that quarry rock be dumped along the river bank where necessary, with the stop-bank to prevent overflow. Mr G. Bryant thought the proposals should be accepted and at the same time a deputation should be arranged to support a major scheme. He moved a motion on those lines. The motion was seconded by Mr A. Hill and carried. Mr Truman moved that the meeting approach the Borough Council to form a deputation of public bodies interested, including Mr Howe, with a view to getting some permanent protection or strengthening of -the present retaining wall. The motion was seconded by Mr Hill and carried. The following committee was appointed to canvass the town for subscriptions: Messrs Bryant, Hill, Truman, Renton. Keown and Wills.