WAIMATA RIVER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16580, 22 February 1928, Page 4

WAIMATA RIVER

NO SERIOUS ENCROACHMENT

PROTECTION WORKS NOT ESSENTIAL

Some months ago complaints were received by the Gisborne Borough Council from residents in Riverside road in tho vicinity of Stafford street regarding tho encroachment of tho Waimata River, which they alleged was endangering their property, and the council was asked to ascertain whether some protection works could he constructed to remedy the mailer. The municipal engineer, Mr. A Young, agreed to make an inspection and survey of the locality, and at last evening’s meeting of tho council he submitted a detailed report of his findings, tho report indicating that the encroachment was not likely to be serious, and did not warrant tho construction of costly works to control it. Mr. Young’s report was as follows:

“ I inspected the bend of the river very carefully, and have had cross sections taken and plotted for the purpose of showing the present boundary of the river. Upon tiiis were plotted for comparison old surveys dating 40 years back, and the result discloses that erosion has taken place at certain points. For instance, section 109 shows a 10ft. or 12ft. encroachment at tho corner, but generally over the whole length of the bend there docs not appear to be any considerable change in the course of the river since tho original surveys wero taken.

“ The river bank up to high-water mark at least consists of stiff’ clay, which offers considerable resistance to erosion. Probably this bed of clay rests on gravel, which circumstance would explain the existence of deep water, some 30ft., at low tide throughout the year. Recent small slips show up on the bank just opposite Whitaker street ; this may be caused by seepage through the bank, carrying away the loose soil on top. I understand there has been a large amount of soil tipped over this bank, besides garden refuse and rubbish, which is much in evidence.

“ Tho cross section of the river just here sho-ws an easy sloping bed and is not tho sort of bed 1 one would expect if serious -erosion were threatened. Of course, a bend in the river is always more susceptible to scouring action than a straight portion in times of flood, and just how far it is prudent or advisablo to go by way of protective measures for that purpose of entirely eliminating this danger is somewhat difficult to decide, and there is practically no limit to tho expenditure that could bo incurred to this end.

“ The council has planted iwti’llow trees on the bank alongside Riverside road and Stafford street, and I would suggest that the owners of those properties affected by erosion should adopt this inexpensive method of protection and plant willows, basket willows for preference, on the banks, and in addition, clear away all loose bush, driftwood, and rubbish from the river frontages. In any case, so far as the council property is concerned, I do not consider that the behavior bf tho river so far has become such as to call for the construction of works of a costly character to control it.”

Cr. T. Todd suggested encouraging the engineer to plant poplars on the river bank at the place in question for the protection of tho bank.

Cr. W. Cave considered it better to plant willows or something of the sort rather than to obstruct the natural flow of tho water.

The report was adopted,