HIGHWAY RAISING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 9, 28 January 1942, Page 5

HIGHWAY RAISING

WHAKATANE STATION ROUTE

CONSIDERED IMPRACTICABLE

A letter received at yesterday's meeting of the County Council was from the Department of Lands and Survey advising that in connection with the flooding of the area lying between the Te Rahu Drain and the Whakatane Station Highway, the protection of such area is considered to be impracticable on account of the high cost.

It is not generally known that the high flood level of the Whakatane River is at least four feet six iiiches above the level of the Whakatane Station Highway. To provide protection, with a reasonable margin of safety for the land east of Station Highway, the roadway should be raised 6 feet in places and a high stopbank would be required on the right bank of the Te Rahu Drain. The department advised that' the cost of these works would be quite out of proportion to the value of the land protected and the area must be regarded as fine weather grazing land.

The County Clerk reported that Mr Taylor's letter had been forwarded at the request of the council. It would be remembered that Messrs Soutar, Kelly, Phillips, Boon and Smith requested the council to arrange for a deputation to> wait on the Hon. the Prime Minister who at that time, November, was thought would be in the district taking part in the Bay of Plenty election campaign.