DRAINAGE PROBLEM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 178, 10 November 1941, Page 5

DRAINAGE PROBLEM

RA?*/ TAIKI RIVER OUTLET

CONCERN OF SETTLORS

Land drainage problems affecting the Thornton district of the Rangitaiki Plains were discussed at length on Wednesday morning when a deputation, of about 20 ratepayers met Mr R. L. Innis, of the Lands Department at Thornton. It has been mentioned in the BEA, "CON from time to time, the Rangitaiki River has formed a large lagoon or estuary at its mouth in recent years. The actual river mouth Is now a mile or so nearer Whakatane than it was a few years ago. This prevents flood Avater from getting away rapidly to sea. Representative Deputation Mir W. A. McCracken, acting- • chairman of the Rangitaiki Rate, payers' Association, introduced tho deputation, which represented all the -settlers at Thornton whose land had flooded during recent months of the high level of watei Jfrn*"the Rangitaiki River and tho drains entering the river near Thornton. This problem also affected land owned by the State, namely the Orini Block, at McLean's Road, as tlio Rangitaiki River water backed up ' the Kopeopeo Diversion Canal for • several miles to make the Orini -Block wet and thus hinder its development by the Lands Department Serious Flooding Mr F. W. Newton and Mr B. Palmes, spoke of the 1 serious flooding caused to their properties, which lie "between the main highway and the sandhills. This land is supposed to •drain into a large canal, the Massey Drain, which enters the Kopeopec Diversion Canal near Thornton. However, the Massey Drain had overflowed its zanks in places and was keeping the country wet. T'h« floodgate installed by the Department at the mouth of the Massey D'rain was no longer effective, because of the higli level of the river, "Mr Newton declared that the country in that locality was wetter than it had been 15 years agoi. Both set, tiers gave figures of how production on that land had been reduced as a consequence of flooding every win« ter. Formation of Sand l Spit Mr Alex. McLean also spoke of the serious affect of 'the high water level in the river and the drainage canals. Mr W. Moore, who has an intimate knowledge of the river entrance, referred to the adverse affect on drainage caused in recent years by the formation of a sandspit across the river mouth. A high sandhill was being formed right across the former entrance to the river, tliuis rendering futile the efforts of the Department to dredge .a channel through the sandspit. Seriousness Realised Mr Innis, who was in charge of the Lands Department's work on the Rangitaiki Plains for many years, .assured the deputation that he realis--ed the seriousness of their drainage problems. He pointed out that at present no funds w;ere available to carry out -work at the mouth of the river. Drainage rates paid by settlers were sufficient only for maintenance work and to> meet interest on the capital ■cost of work done in the past. This being so, Mr Innis advised the deputation to apply to the Minister of Lands for a grant for river improvement work. If this w r ere -voted by Parliament then the Lands Department would be able to do •something to put the river straight out to sea and thus lower the level, of water in the drains. Mr Innis said he would report on the position -to his Department, and so the representations of settlers to the Minister would back up his recommendations . —v Messrs McCracken, McLean and Newton were appointed a commit- % tee from the deputation to confer -with the secretary of the Ratepayers' Association and draft a suitable letter to the Minister of Lands.