BULLDOZING OF TRACKS ON HILLS MAY CAUSE SOIL EROSION

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 January 1948, Page 7

BULLDOZING OF TRACKS ON HILLS MAY CAUSE SOIL EROSION

The possibility of erosion of hill country land being started by the bulldozing of tracks on hillsides was mentioned by Mr. A. R. Dingwall at yesterday’s meeting of the Rangitikei Catchment Board at Marton. “The Southern Works Committee'in its report stated that the matter had been discussed by the committee and it had been decided that preventive action could be taken under the board’s bylaws. The matter had not been sufficiently investigated, said Mr, Dingwall. The use of bulldozers in making tracks on hillsides might easily lead to erosion which would involve the board in considerable expenditure in the future in the way of subsidies. The cutting of these tracks was an essential feature of the development of the hill country, but there was the danger of erosion to be considered. Scouring was particularly bad on roads where there were no water tables and where there were watertables, but culverts only at lengthy intervals. Erosion was likely to occur on the downhill sides of the roads and on the up-hill sides where cuttings had been made. “I think the matter should be thoroughly investigated as It may develop into a big problem,” said Mr. Dingwall. “Money is required for experiments on the possibilities of regrassing the roadway. I hope, myself, to be able to carry out some investigations into this matter in the near future to see to what extent ero-