SOLUTION TO FLOODING OF STREAM SOUGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 September 1950, Page 8

SOLUTION TO FLOODING OF STREAM SOUGHT

Plan To Deviate Matarawa Stream Is Discussed

Proposals for preventing of flooding of the Matarawa Stream and its Tower reaches (Nixon’s Creek) were aired at a conference of representatives of the Wanganui City Council, Wanganui County Council, the Ministry of Works and settlers, called by the County Council yesterday but a decision to carry out a preliminary survey for a diversion of the stream was the only one reached. The main proposal before the meeting was the diversion of some of the waters of the Maunrawa Stream through Gordon Park into the Mataongaonga Stream. The survey, the cost of which is to be shared equally by the Wanganui City Council and the Wanganui County Council, will be to find if such a scheme is practicable. Opening the conference, the Wan ganui County Council chairman, Cr. A. H. Collins, said the county realised the City Council had a definite problem with the flooding at Wanganui East. In heavy rain it was impossible * to control flooding of the Matarawa | Stream, which had a watershed of I 18 000 acres. Tlie Mayor, the Hon. W. J. Rogers, M.L.C., Cr T. N Dickson (City Council), and Mr D McGregor (member of a deputation from the Okoia branch of Federated Farmers) reviewed the problem, then Mr L. F. Row, city engineer said the problem was becoming more acute because the areas flooded in Wanganui East were now being built upon. He claimed the best solution would be to divert the Matarawa Stream through Gordon Park, if necessary erecting a control device to regulate the amount of water to go into the diversion. Such a scheme might cost as much as £20,000, but a thorough investigation would be necessary to give a true es- • timate. He illustrated his proposal with a ' large aerial photograph of the area, pointing out that there should be no lack of fall as the distance the water had to run would be shorter than on its present course. Cr. Collins stated that he did not think such a diversion would be practicable because of possible damage to farming land in the area. He suggested that the settlers should form a drainage board. Mr S. Paterson, whose property the proposed diversion would run through, stated: “It seems to me they have built on lands liable 1o flooding, so they want to flood somebody else.” I The Mataongaonga Stream already carried all the water it could cope | with in flood-time, he said, and a diversion would only cause flooding of surrounding land. The settlers were definitely against a drainage board being formed, said Mr D. M. Olliver, another member of the Federated Farmers’ deputation. He suggested the clearing of obstructions, such as willows and scrub, and the imnrovement of low bridges and culverts would alleviate the flooding throughout the length of the Matarawa Stream. SEEK A SUBSIDY The district Ministry of Works engineer. Mr G. W. Sampson, assessed the cost of a diversion at £20,000,

which, he said, was reasonable when the number of houses affected was considered. The local bodies would have to combine to carry out this work, but firstly he suggested that a thorough survey should be earned out. Then, if the scheme were practicable. a subsidy should be sought for the work.

The Wanganui county engineer, Mr R. R. Dawson, supported the view that the only scheme was to divert the flood-waters into tne Mataongaonga Stream. The greater part of that stream ran through a defined gully which would not cause flooding to surrounding land, l.c said, but a large open cut would be necessary to link the gully with the Matarawa Stream. He thought that with an outlay of £30,000 it would be possible to carry i out a comprehensive scheme which would alleviate flooding over the whole length of the Matarawa Stream. ' He did not consider the amount of floodable land warranted such a scheme, however. Cr. N. Neilson f county council) said that even properties near the sources of tributaries of the Matarawa Stream suffered flooding. He did not think clearing of 'the stream would alleviate the flooding as the Waneanui River get the level for any deepening of the i stream. I PARTLY TIDAL I ; Mr Row explained that from Gerse Street to the Wanganui River the ■ Matarawa Stream (Nixon’s Cronk) was tidal and little could be done to improve it. From Gerse Street to No. 3 Line however, the City Council was prepared to carry out improvements. It was useless the council doing such ‘ work if it clashed with anything the 5 county had in hand, however. r Cr. Collins said he considered it unfair to put a load on the ratepayers • by carrying out work on the Okoia 1 drains if the settlors would not form J a drainage board. He moved a resolution that the Ministry of Works, 1 Railways, City Council and County 5 Council engineers confer and prepare 1 a report on alternative proposals. This ' i was opposed by Mr Sampson, who said i the flooding was a matter for the two ' councils. ■ Cr. Dickson then asked if the own- ‘ ers of properties at Gordon Park . would be willing for the Matarawa 1 , Stream to bp diverted through their land provided they had an assurance ' from the councils that the diversion would cost them nothing and that ' there would be no flooding. If they were willing then the County Council L could assist the City Council in the cost of the diversion. The property owners present agreed • providing no work was carried out ’ without a full investigation of the ’ ( effects of such a diversion. ' EFFECT AT ARAMOHO »i . 1 Mr J. G. Calver, whose farm is near the Mataongaonga Stream. ■ warned Cr Dickson that an increase in ; the stream’s flow might aggravate I erosion of 'the bank on the Aramoho ’ side of the Wanganui River. Ascertaining from Mr Sampson that . a preliminary survey of the area for I a diversion would cost about £3O, Cr. 1 Collins then moved a resolution, sec- ; onded by Cr. Dicks n, that a prelimin- ’ ary survey be made through Gordon .Park down 'the Ma aongaonga Stream ! and that the cost oe shared equally by the City Council and the County Council. i This i(’solution was carried vnanirn- , ously.