FAIRLIE CREEK WILL BE DIVERTED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23387, 19 December 1945, Page 3

FAIRLIE CREEK WILL BE DIVERTED

Avoiding Flooding Of Township Catchment Board Makes Decision Having completed a survey of the Fairlie district and investigated the causes of flooding of the township, the chief engineer to the South Canterbury Catchment Board (Mr G. R. Milward) reported to a meeting of the Board in Timaru yesterday that the creek that caused the flooding was known as the Township Creek and drained approximately 2460 acres of i steep country on which the tussock and grass coverage had become thin with the result that there was an increasing rate of rainfall run-off. He recommended that the creek be diverted into Irishman's Creek and the Board adopted the recommendation. “Immediately behind the township the gradient of the creek flattens from a fall of 60 feet a mile to a fall of 30 feet a mile. This fact, together with various sharp bends in this vicinity, causes shingle to be deposited, filling the bed in times of flood and allowing the overflow to spread through the township properties,” reported Mr Milward. “The culvert across the State Highway has an area of 24 square feet and, even if the creek water could be contained in the existing bed, this culvert cannot take a flood. The culvert area required by ordinary discharge standards should be 180 square feet or seven and a half times the size of the present culvert. “The creek above the township has a steep gradient, the fall being 80 feet a mile at first, and increasing in steepness as the high country is approached. Shingle is therefore easily carried by every fresh in the creek and the township area, where the gradient flattens off, is the natural place for such shingle to be deposited. Increasing the size of the creek, or enlarging the Highway culvert, would make little difference to this trouble, and owing to confined space in small properties it would not be easy to operate excavating plant for renewal of shingle after each flood.

“Proposals for straightening the creek and diverting it have also been investigated, but are ruled out owing to excessive cost in Road and Highway Bridging and the necessity for a spillway. I therefore recommend that the creek be diverted to flow into Irishman’s Creek. New Bridges Needed “The watershed of Irishman’s Creek, according to the district lithograph, is approximately 3600 acres, and the highway bridge is not any too large at present; but as this bridge is an old wooden structure in need of renewal in any case, it should be rebuilt on a new alignment and designed to accommodate the run-off from both watersheds,” continued Mr Milward. "The Irishman's Creek, from its junction with the Opihi riverbed to the junction of the proposed diversion, should be cleared of certain willow growth and accumulated shingle, and the present bridge on the lower reaches of Irishman’s Creek should be either renewed or rebuilt by the Mackenzie County Council, as it is much too small to take flood water at present. “The route of the proposed diversion is across private land, and it would be better for future maintenance if the Board acquired title to a strip, say one and a half chains wide, involving about five acres. The actual channel would be on a gradient of 40 feet a mile and will require periodical clearing of deposited shingle. This could be cheaply done by a bulldozer, as the channel will be fairly shallow. The channel should be 30 feet in width and should be constructed with a secure high bank on the downhill side to guard against any overflow. A bridge will be necessary with a waterway of 180 square feet where the diversion crosses the County road. “The Main Highways Board also will be largely involved in this proposal, as the main road is a State Highway where the whole cost of construction and maintenance of bridges, culverts, etc., is borne by the Highways Board,” explained Mr Milward. “Negotiations will therefore be necessary to ensure that the Highways Board is prepared to carry out the bridge renewal. In addition to the work explained so far some protective work (stone bags and planting of saplings) will be required in the Township Creek at a point about two miles above the proposed diversion, and an allowance of £25 is made for this in the estimate.” Mr Milward presented his estimate ot the cost as follows, excluding the highway bridge: Diversion channel, 9000 cubic yards at 1/6, £675; purchase of [ land (including allowance for severj ance and surveying) £290; county road bridge. 40 feet long (in timber) and approaches. £500; clearing willows and shingle, Irishman’s Creek, £100; protective work in Township Creek near : foothills, £25; 10 per cent for general 1 contingencies, £160; engineering and I supervision 5 per cent.. £80; a total of £lB3O. Recommendations Approved Mr Milward made the following I recommendations which were approved by the Board: (a) That copies of the report and plan be sent to the Mackenzie County Council, to the District Highways Council, and to the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council; (b) that application be made to the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council for a £2 for £1 subsidy on the work; (c) that negotiations be made with the property owners for the acquisition of land; (4) that the Board negotiate with the Mackenzie County Council as to the most suitable method of raising the local onethird share of cost. “It should be noted that a classification is not a subsidised item," concluded Mr Milward. “This, and the costs of creation of a special rating area, may reach a figure of £2OO which would have to be borne by the special rating area if this method of finance I is decided on.” Mr C. V. Kirke received an assurance from the engineer that Irishman’s Creek would take all the water from the Township Creek and that there would be no menace to landowners ; near Irishman’s Creek. - opp how we can do any-

thing other than what the engineer has recommended,” said Mr Kirke. “A survey has been made and a report prepared. The scheme concerns only a small area in the county and perhaps the County Council could lend the Board the money required until a special area in the county was fixed for rating to produce the local share of the cost.” Christmas Carols On Sunday night the combined choirs of St. Columba Presbyterian Church and St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, visited the homes of a number of aged and sick in the township, when Christmas carols were sung. The hospital was also visited. At each home and at the hospital a posy of flowers was presented to each woman in the household. The gesture of the choirs was greatly appreciated. Mr A. J. Withers acted as conductor and Miss Tyrell as pianist.