RIVER EROSION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 52, 2 March 1943, Page 8

RIVER EROSION

PETITION FROM WAIMANA

REFERRED BACK TO COUNCIL,

The Minister of Public Works writing the Whakatane County Council referred to its (the Coun-

cil's) request for particulars of a re-

cent petition submitted by Mr G. t. Kirkbridc and 13 others. This petition was forwarded by the Opotiki Borough Council through Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., and was on general lines asking for advice in regard to the erosion of the Waimana River, and it had been arranged for Mr

Sullivan to acquaint the. Whakatane County Council of the position when replying to the Opotiki Borough Council.

The copy of the Minister of Public Works' letter to Mr W. Sullivan M.P. minuted on to the Council, reads:—

"In reply to your letter of 9th December in which you enclose l a petition signed by G. Kirkbride; and 13 other settlers who asked for advice in regard to the control of the Waimana River, I have raceivcd, a report, from the. District Engineer who inspected the river in company with the Whakatane County Engineer. This report reveals that where the Raroa Stream joins the Waimana River the Council has shortened the course of the Waimana River with the idea of. checking the tendency of the Waimana River to at-* tack the bridge over the Raroa Stream. The. result may be to increase the tendency of the Waimana River when in flood to attack the access road through 'Mr Kirkbride's property. There is no present evidence of this danger and if such occurred the road could be deviated at a .lesser cost than any protection work. It is thought that no immediate action is necessary but that, the matter may be dealt with at a more convenient date after the wax. I have also received f a letter from the Clerk of the Whakatane County Council advising me that the Council was noit acquainted with the petition which referred to Avorks in the County and I would be pleased if you would forward the Whakatane County Council a copy of your reply to the Opotiki Borough Council.'' The chairman, Mr J. L. Burnett, at last Tuesday's meeting of the Council said that he- had seen Mr Sullivan since and had learnt that the latter had probably got mixed up with another matter of a similar nature he was handling on behalf of the Opotiki Borough Council. This would probably explain the mention of that body. Cr McCready: Has the Department taken any steps to notify the petitioners at all? The chairman said he did not know. Cr McCready: The. petitioners asked for a complete investigation of the Waimana River works, and this is all they get. Is that the position? The matter was then dropped.