WAIROA RIVER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 28 October 1935, Page 4

WAIROA RIVER

FLOOD PROTECTIVE WORKS MINISTER RECEIVES REPORT FURTHER SURVEYS NECESSARY “With reference to the interview which Air border, chairman of the Wuimea County Council, and yourself bad with me concerning flood protective works on the Wairoa River above the railway near Brightwater, 1 have nqw had a full report upon this matter from my Department,” states the Hon. J. Bitchener, Minister of Public Works, in a letter to Mi H. Almore, M.P. "The estimated cost of a Mopbanking and protective work scheme to prevent flooding of the lands above the railway bridge and the highway, is £9310, of which £7200 would be labour. The scheme has been thoroughly investigated by the Department, and it is quite satisfied that complete protection can be provided for this amount, but the work' would have the effect of concentrating Hood waters into one stream instead of three under the railway. Unless some protective measures were carried out below the bridge to safeguard the settlers there, undoubtedly there would be a protest from them with regard to this concentration of waters, as it would probably cause damage in places where it Inis not previously occurred. “The right thing to do in connection with the controlling of the Wairoa River is not only to control it above the bridge, but to carry the work down the river until the flood waters can _be confined to their proper channel without doing damage to the adjacent country. The opinion has been expressed that these protective works should be carried out down to at least the junction of the Wairoa and Wai-iti rivers, which is nearly three miles below the railway bridges, but it may he desirable to carry them even further downstream. “It is considered, therefore, that the wisest course would be to carry out further surveys to ascertain what would be the cost of the extension of the work downstream, and the value of this protection to the adjoining lands and roads. As you are no doubt aware, it is a risky thing to put in protective works in one part of the river and so concentrate the waters that they might cause damage to properties further down the river. SPECIAL RATING AREA ON RIVER BOARD “Under the circumstanc.es, therefore, I have approved of a sufficient sum of money to carry out a survey from the railway bridge downstream as far as is necessary towards the sea. . This will probably take a month or two to complete, but there is no doubt in my mind that this is the proper way to carry out tlie work, and I should certainly not be inclined to approve of any work being carried out which might he the cause of some action for damages in the future. “When the survey is carried out and proper plans made, the matter can then be fully considered, but in my opinion the correct thing to do would be to give the plans and scheme to the local body, and ask it to form a special rating area or a River Board, which would carry out the work probably with the Government’s assistance and make itself responsible for future maintenance.”