FLOOD DANGER, AT MOERA.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 15, 4 September 1930, Page 3

FLOOD DANGER, AT MOERA.

WORK RECOMMENDED

GO V KfiNM ENT SUBSIDY GRANTED.

Although improvements effected to the Awamotu stream ..by straightening its course, constructing larger culverts through the Hutt Park, and clearing the channel through the settlemient, have greatly prevented flooding, fesitlents of Moera and adjoining blocks have complained that Avater lying in the swampy areas in and adjacent to thio- settlement is a menace to the •health of the community, and have asked for something more to be done. Last week it was stated that Cabinet had approved of a recommendation hy the Minister of Public-Works (the- Hon. W. B. Ta-vemcr) that a substantial subsidy be granted for the canying out of works to prevent flooding of that settlement by the Awamotu stream. The work is estimated to cost £3300". The Government is prepared to provide three-fourths of this sum if the local bodies concerned will find the balance. Representations concerning their com, plaints were made by the residents of Mocra to Mr. W, Nrtsh^; M.P 7 /and'at ■his 'ifectues't" tEe then* jNiinisf er""of ""Raitvv/ays (the Hon. W. B. Tavener), in jlenittpany with Government/ borough, and river board officials, inspected the locality, and as a consequience gave instructions that a committee consisting of the Chief Engineer, Railway DeX>artment|, the Assistant Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, and tho borough and river board engineers, and the Chief Surveyor, should, prepare a report on the whole position and make recommendations for alleviating the trouble. ~ . The report, released for publication by Hxe Minister of Puiblic Works, -indicates 4 that the problem is a difficult one owing to the fact that the fall mv

the stream is extremely small, and. that i some of the low-lying lands are below.' high spring tidie level. The committee finds that the works already carried out by the River Board and through' the Hutt Park ha<ye greatly improvced- l-he situation, 'recommends: that further improvements bo. carried out by filling in certain of the swamp areas between White's Line and Elizabeth street and the enlarging of , the culvert "at Elizabeth Street. The committee also stresses the need for .keeping thc.^sJtiseant beds of both the Waiwetu and Awamotu streams cleaned out. "'.-.• The Wellington. City Council's water mains cross the channel of the Awamotti Stream in- the Hutt Park, and offer some obstruction- to t>he flow. The' committee-' cxpresse's the opinion that,] sonic-..alteration should be made there to provide a free flow for the flood waters. . • v - The recommendations involve the provision .of an additional waterway at Elizabeth Streetj at a cost of £150; the filling in of the law-lying ground between Whites Js Line and Awamotu Street, at a cost of £180- and the filling in of a' considerable area of raupo swamp Jtdjoinin'g the stream, and adjae-. out'■ to cottages between, the indietrial lino arifl Elizabeth Street, to cost'£3ooo.; { The committee expresses tie opinion, that the remedial measures- outlined will prevent flooding save in the Hutt Park during ordinary .abnormal conditions, but in-the event of a combination of exceptional circumstances such as may occur from time to time in any part of the. world, flooding may still conceivably occur. To make' provision for such an occurrence is ; in the opinion of the committee, unjustified in the existing circumstances, as to do so would . entail resorting to a suitable pumping scheme at a very considerable cost. Moreover, should such a scheme be necessary at any time in the future,. nothing whie-h had been done up to the

present would bo found utiuecessary, and the cost in that case would not l)c increased. The question of public health b^iug r.lFi'ctcd by the breeding of niosquitocs ::i the low-lying areas between Whites Line and Elizabeth .Struct has boeii raised by residents in the vicinity. The committee 'states that the areas referred to may be breeding grouuds for mosquitcTes, but that it is problematical whether the health of the community is adversely affected on that ac,count. The swampy areas_, however, must necessarily cause dampness in the vicinity, which may be inimical to health. This is oiie of' the reasons that gave rise to the recommendation for .reclaiming- the swampy areas in certain localities. It is anticipated that sales of reclaimed sections will" reimiburse the Govermnqnt to the extent of about £1000. ■■:/'_• • • ■'. Eeferring to the committee's report, Mr. Kash stated t-hat discussions were new being entered into with a view to' the work being entered into with. '. a vie^v to the work being undertaken as soon as possible. Karly action, he maintained, was necessary not only from a social unA health point of view, but because thp scheme would give relief" to the lai"ge number of unie,mploy'ed in the -'district, who could do the work quite well. He said that the question of adjustment of costs as bctweenthe Government and the local bodies affected 'had still to be decided. Ho considered thatthe work praposed to .be done would be advantageous to all concerned. .