DRAINAGE OF WAIRARAPA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17944, 23 November 1932, Page 6

DRAINAGE OF WAIRARAPA

RIVER DIVERSION SCHEME A start will be made next week on a big scheme for Hood protection entailing the diversion of the Tiii'anganui River. Wairarnpa. Tim work will be carried out by the Public- Works Department on belinit of the South Wairarnpa Rivei Board and the Unemployment Board. The total cost will he about £4OOO, of which tile Unemployment, Board will find two-thirds and the. River Board the remainder. The task involves the excavation of 40.GQ0 cubic yards of spoil. The diversion of the Turanganui River is the first move in a comprehensive scheme which has as its object tile drainage of large areas of Lake Wairal'apa. It is anticipated that the diversion of the river will have an immediate effect in relieving farm lands from flooding. Actually, it will only be necessary to make a cut three-quarters of a mile long and to erect a, groyne in the river 'ii order to direct the waters down the diversion. The natural fall of the country will do the rest. The land about the lake at this part is very low-lying, and the water pouring through the cut will soon scour out a channel and complete the diversion to the lake. The next portion of the scheme, to be carried out at some future time, will be tho diversion of the Riumialuinga. River. The result of this, it is anticipated, would be the creation of a clearly defined watercourse, replacing (lie wide stretch of L uke Wairarnpa. Thousands of acres of farm land on the shores of the lake would bo rendered more or less immune from flooding, whilst in addition a large area, of what is at present lake bed would be available for farming. At present 43.7G0 acres about the lake artliable to flooding.