TOTARA CREEK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19945, 1 November 1934, Page 6

TOTARA CREEK

OVERFLOW IN FLOOD TIME REPORT BY ENGINEER At yesterday’s meeting of the Levels County Council, a report was submitted by the engineer (Mr T. Black) in regard to the overflow in flood time of the Totara Creek between Mr Bishop’s homestead and the creek near Mr Garland Blackler’s house on the main Totara Road. Under ordinary conditions the Totara Creek and the drains which had been cut in this locality <the site of an old swamp) would carry off the water in good time, but when there had been heavy rainfall on the foothills when the ground had already been saturated the Totara Creek between Steven’s and Blackler's bridges would not cope with the water and the depressions between Bishop’s and Blackler’s bridge acted as overflow channels, permitting the overflow to find its way back to the creek, where the channel was large enough to cope with all the flood water of this area.

The engineer stated that the approximate measurements of cross section of flood area were taken immediately after the flood as follows: At Kerslake’s bridge, 300 sq ft; at Blackler’s bridge,

200 sq ft; at Bourne’s bridge (water over top), 150 sq ft; at Steven’s bridge, 140 sq ft. Between Steven’s and Blackler’s bridges a considerable amount of water flowed from the adjacent downs into the Totara Creek. The report went on to state that with the above flood areas as a basis in considering a proposal to confine all the flood water to the creek channel, it could be assumed that provision would have to be made for carrying at least another 100 square feet of water. This would necessitate the construction of an embankment commencing at Bourne’s bridge and ending upstream at a distance of at least 35 chains. The creek bed between Bourne's and Blackler’s bridges would require to be enlarged and the banks protected against scour. Provision would also have to be made at the two bridges to cope with the extra flood water. As he had not made a detailed survey or taken the necessary levels, he was not in a position to give an estimate of the cost, but it would be considerable and was it 'worth while the Council at present considering the proposal which would be costly to construct and perhaps expensive to maintain. Owing to the sile and rotten nature of the ground in this locality any interference with the present channels was likely to cause extensive scour and any new works expensive to maintain for several years.

The engineer pointed out that for the last twenty years the cost of repairing damage to the main Totara Road had not exceeded £3O, and during that period the days on which stock traffic was held up would not average one a year. _ _ ... The chairman (Mr T. B. Garrick) said that he agreed with the engineer that if they interfered at the spot, there was no telling what it would cost the Council. . The engineer said that it might be possible to put in a light car bridge. It was agreed that the engineer should report on this suggestion.