RANGITAIKI DRAINAGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 177, 7 November 1941, Page 5

RANGITAIKI DRAINAGE

RIVERMOUTH PROBLEM

VISIT OF LANDS DEPARTMENT

OFFICERS

For many months the settlers in the vicinity of the mouth of the Rangitiaiki River have been very concerned regarding the poor drainage of their land' and as a result of representations made Messrs R. L. Innes and' F. Taylor, of the Lands' Department, Auckland, met settlers at Thornton on Wednesday. Mr Innes was for many years in charge of the Rangitaiki Plains Drainage.

Reason For Complaint

Flooding of low-lying farm lands rit Thornton during past months has been attributed by settlers to the high level in the river and the canals resulting . from the sand spit impounding the river water in a large estuary. Settlers declare that their [and is more waterlogged than it was 10 or 20 years ago* when the river went straight out to sea. In recent years the river has turned down the coast towards Whakatanewith its mouth blocked by a sandspit many chains long. Failure of Dredge Efforts by the Lands Department's dredge to cut through the spit during July and August of this j'ear failed, and considering that the time had arrived when some 1 definite measure should be undertaken settlers met and decided to approach the Lands Department with their complaint. Some correspondence resulted in Messrs Innes and Taylor paying their visit on Wednesday and when they met settlers concerned they explained the position as they .saw it. Must Be Undertaken In an interview with a BEACON representative yesterday Mir Innes stated that there was no doubt that the river would have to be straight e,ned although he could not say when the work would be undertaken as funds available were the chief concern. He was of the opinion that even though the Rangitaiki was given a straight run to sea the drainage of those who considered they were adversely affected would not greatly improve, as the, land in question was lower than high tide level. An improvement tvould result at low tide but the tow-lying areas would nevertheless have to continue pumping.

Undrainable

"Fifteen years ago the land was regarded as undrainable and now ;t Is high producing country, owing to {jumping," he said in paying tribute to the diligent farming of "swamp" Settlers.

He continued that the problem had been considered for a long time by the Department, the 1 chief concern not being to improve the drainage of those farms effected, but to, taking a long sighted view, prepare tigainst the repercussions many years hence. He added that the. position was fully realised by Departmental ftfficers, many efforts had been made to have the position improved, and once again he would place the facts before the Department.