SUPPORT SOUGHT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20852, 7 October 1937, Page 6

SUPPORT SOUGHT

WASHDYKE LAGOON DRAINAGE COUNCIL APPROACHED Seeking support for a proposal to lower the Washdyke Lagoon and effect drainage of farming land in the vicinity, a deputation comprising representatives Of the Seadown Drainage Scheme Committee waited on the Levels County Council at yesterday’s meeting. Advice was received from the Minister of Public Works that the Cabinet had approved of drainage works being carried out on an area of approximately 3000 acres bordering the Washdyke Lagoon at a cost of £lO,OOO, conditional upon the Levels County Council paying a contribution of £5OOO towards the cost of the work into the Public Account before the work was started and giving an undertaking to maintain the works on completion. The cost of the original proposals was £13,000, but that cost had been reduced by omitting a portion of the original area at the north end of the scheme. Mr H. Sievwrlght (chairman of the Drainage Committee), explained that several meetings of ratepayers had been held regarding the scheme. A plan had been drawn up by the Public Works Department to lower the level of the lagoon so that the adjacent lands would be freed of water. Anyone coming into the County from the south had a view of the lagoon, which was not altogether a beauty spot. It was a watershed—for the drainage of 22,000 acres of County land, and the Council could not reasonably’ let the matter drop. Mr Donald Grant: It has not been allowed to drop. The lagoon would have to be lowered to allow of the proposed stock route to be effected. The lagoon was an eyesore and a disgrace, said Mr Sievwrlght. It was simply a resting place for birds. Its removal would be a County asset and the Council could not dodge any responsibility. An appeal to the Council to get behind the scheme was made by Mr J. Harris, secretary of the committee, who considered that the lagoon was a menace to public health and should be removed as it was a blot on the County. There would be tremendous advantages to the County if the scheme were undertaken. Special Rating Area The chairman (Mr T. B. Garrick) explained that the Council had discussed the matter and the only course open was to create a special rating area. He did not think that the County as a whole could be expected to share in the cost of the work. Mr Harris: It is the watershed for the drainage from the back country. “What good is the drainage going to be to the rest of the County?” asked the chairman. The only thing to do, he said, was to create a water area. The Council would raise a loan on behalf of the settlers concerned who would be rated over a given area. Mr Sievwrlght he was of the opinion that the Highways Board might be prepared to share in the cost as the drainage of the lagoon would be of advantage to the main road. The chairman explained that the road in question was now the sole responsibility of the Highways Board. If a loan were raised for the project the settlers would be expected to And about £3OO a year interest and sinking fund for about 30 years. The deputation, said Mr Harris, would be indebted to the Council if it could obtain greater concessions than those at present offered. The chairman said that if the lagoon flooded a State road the Highways Board might assist with the work. In his opinion the ratepayers made a mistake in not coming to the Council sooner. Mr Sievwrlght: We had to start the matter and then come to you. The settlers would appreciate anything the Council could do in the matter, said Mr Harris. There were so many beneficiaries under the proposal that he thought that others should contribute to the cost. Although the settlers might have come to the Council sooner, they felt that It was their job to do the spadework and give the Council something to go on. The chairman assured the deputation that the Council would do its utmost to help them in the matter. The Council decided to write to the Minister asking if a larger grant could be made.