RIVER EROSION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 14, 6 October 1944, Page 5

RIVER EROSION

PROBLEM OF RIVER & STREAM

PREVENTIVE MEASURES URGED

Tlie question of overcoming the growing menace of erosion in this district was fully discussed at the last meeting of the "Whakatane County Council last. \vee,k Avhen a letter from the District Engineer P.W.D. was received advising that an aerial survey of the Station Road ;ijrca would be put in hand when time, permitted, but that it would take some time, to complete, and that even then, finance and manpower and machinery would be the deciding factors with regard to the canning out of the work after the survey. Cr McCready said the position near the Borough boundary was growing most acute v and that a set,tier who had battled for years to get established now stood in danger of losing his; house and nobody appeared to be. caring a 'tinker's cuss.' about it. Cr Hunter asked why the PAV.D, had not proceeded Avith the work as soon as the Council made its allocation of £250 available. "The only thing is to keep dig-! ging into the Soil Conservation and River's Control said Cr Luxton. Cr McCready then introduced the subject of erosion at Skyes property and along the Waioho stream. Inspections by Power Board and P.W.D official Avere going on all the time but nothing seemed to be done. Cr McGougan: Get Mr Sullivan on the job. Cr McCready: Guy Fawkes Avas the man.

It Avas decided that the Soil Conservation and Ri\*ers Control Council be. asked Avhen the river bank protection work at the Whakatane Bridge at. Whakatane Borough Boundary will be commenced, and when the Council may expect to receive the specification herein—that Council be asked for a reply to its let-' ters of the 7th and 27th July i which referred in part to the' Whakatane RiA r er erosion, at Messrs Sykes 7 and Webster's.

With regard to the Waioho creek 5 Mr C. Brown Avaited on the Council and stated that at the settlers' meeting it had been asked that no minor problems receiA 7 e attention until the major scheme had received attention. All the settlers Avere, present Avith the exception of Messrs Sladden and Attwood, and no objection to the aboA'e request had been made by any settler. Work done on Doavuard's Road at one point . Avould create a similar problem at another point: Also if the Council did any work now it might jeopardise the settlers chances of getting the Gov- 1 ernment grant now under consideration.