RANGITAIKI DRAINAGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 5, 19 January 1942, Page 5

RANGITAIKI DRAINAGE

RIVER MOUTH PROBLEM

MINISTER PROMISES TEMPORARY RELIEF

At the first favourable opportunity the Lands Department will make another attempt to cut through the sandspit thiait now blocks the mouth of the Rangitaiki River. This promise is given in a letter from the Minister of Lands, the Hoa. J. G. Barclay, to the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Ratepayers' Committee. Settlers Interview Engineers It will be recalled by those interested in the drainage of the Rangitaiki Plains that early in November a deputation of settlers conferred at Thornton with Messrs Innis and Taylor, engineers of the Lands Department. The settlers spoke of serious winter flooding of pastures, in the Thornton district due to the drains overflowing their The opinion Mas expressed that the Lands Department should go to some expense to straighten the Rangitaiki River channel by means of groynes at its mouth. At present the river mouth is blocked by a sandspit about a mile long, with the result that the water backs up the river ond the drains. Settlers consider that they will not get relief from flooding in the winter unless the river is given a clear run out to sea. Minister's Reply to Settlers In the course of his latest letter to the Rangitaiki Land Drainage Ratepayers' Committee the Minister of Lands says:—

"I' "have had an opportunity of conferring with my Department on the straightening of the mouth of the Rangitaiki River.' A scheme of works entailing the construction of training walls of heavy rock is considered toi be the only satisfactory method whereby the desired results can be obtained. Unfortunately this permanent scheme cannot be proceeded with at the present time, but your committee can rest assured that the necessity for the work Is fully appreciated.

It has been the policy of the De-» partment to cut through the narrow spit at the mouth of the river when it was considered advisable and necessary. Recently this was attempted (last July and August), but the weather conditions were not favourable. The position is being" closely watched, and at the first favourable opportunity _this work will be carried out in order to give temporary relief." "Fresh" Needed in River

So there the matter rests. Should a week's heavy rain fall in the back country the river would carry a big volume of flood water which could be relied on to scour a channel through/the sandspit once a small cut has been opened by the Lands Department. So much for temporary relief. As to the Avails of heavy rock as the river mouth—such a scheme seems definitely "off" until peace time succeeds war-time.