INSPECTION OF CUST VALLEY

North Canterbury Gazette, Volume 7, Issue 59, 26 November 1937, Page 3

INSPECTION OF CUST VALLEY

Progress League Visit

RIVER TRUST TO BE

APPROACHED

Yesterday members of the Rangiora County Council and ratepayers of the Cust Valley conducted members of the Canterbury Progress League and Mr H. W. Harris, engineer to the Waimakariri River Trust, on an inspection of the valley, where for some time considerable flooding from the Cust River, due to the winding and overgrown course of the bed, has been a source of trouble. The Progress League members present were Messrs J. E. Strachan, G. H. Judd, and P. R. Climie (secretary). The inspection of the river has followed negotiations between the Rangiora County Council and the Progress League which some time ago involved criticism of the League for its lack of attention to the matter. The Council has considered that a scheme for clearing the valley of willows is one of the major works in its district with •which the League can be of assistance. The ratepayers in the valley are at present exempt from River Trust rates, the result of a petition presented to the Trust some years ago, following the imposition of rating areas. More recently a move was made to bring the valley settlers back into the Trust’s area in order that scheme could be carried out. This was not successful, and so far very little has been done with the problem. Complaints of flooding and damage to the Council’s roads and bridges were brought to a head this year, when organisations in the district appealed to the Council to take actfon, as the constantly flooded roads crossing the valley were a source of danger, particularly to school children. An instance was given of a man who was reported by school children to have disappeared in the flooded stream, causing great alarm. Afterwards he was found to be safe and sound at his work, but it appeared that he had been subjected to some risk.

At yesterday’s inspection various schemes and their possibilities were discussed. It was pointed out by Mr Harris that the extent of any work done would be limited by the capacity of the lower reaches of the river. Work was completed several years ago on the section below the Itoad. This had given a width of bed sufficient to oarry safely the water now being discharged, but would not be wide enough for a greatly increased volume.

In view of this it was considered that if the present obstructions in the bed, mostly willows, Avere cleared, this would be sufficient to meet the case.

The Progress League will now confer with the River Trust and endeavour to formulate a scheme acceptable to the ratepayers.

It is understood that the rates paid by settlers when they were in the Trust’s area amounted to about £4O yearly.