DOWNARD'S ROAD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 20, 31 October 1944, Page 5

DOWNARD'S ROAD

COMPREHENSIVE DRAINAGE

OUESTION

SETTLERS URGE COMPLETION

When seven settlers urged upon the Whakatane County Council at its last meeting that other steps be taken immediately to alleviate the flooding of Downard's. Roatl it was obvious, to Councillors that there was a slight difference of opinion amongst' the ratepayers in that vicinity. As will be recalled, the original representations of. these ratepayers was for a comprehensive drainage scheme along the length of the Waioho Stream but. the, latest agitation however urged the ° J 9 ° immediate construction of a lloodgatc in order to give relief to those, whom it was claimed needed it most. The petitioners asked that the Council make available to them gravel, reinforcing material and supervision, and for their part ? were prepared to carry out the work at their own expense. The chairman (Mr J. L. Burnett) said that the Council had been led to believe when they met the settlers on the spot that all were in favour of a complete survey being made. He thought that if such action Avere a Public Works grant would be forthcoming,, but if a piecemeal process were adopted there would be no chance of a subsidy. In his opinion, the wisest course was. to have a survey taken. Cr Luxton pointed out that the insertion of a floodgate such as the new group of settlers desired was likely to be rendered useless when tlie- comprehensive scheme was completed, and should the level of. the creek subside as Avas anticipated, the gate would then act as a dam and aggravate the position of flooding.

Cr McCready said that he A\ r as now backed up in black and white- by the settlers directly concerned and he had therefore no apologies to make in pressing i'or immediate redress. The floodgate could be sunk deep enough to avoid nny future complications, but the. settlers had made up their minds not to Avait any longer. They Avould proceed w T ith the boxing and go ahead and help themselves. Tliey Avere sick and tired of carrying the Avater from other peoples' properties which had been killing the grass and flooding the road and did not intend to put up with it any longer. If the Council could not sec its Avay clear to meet them, they would seriously question coming into the major scheme at all.

The Chairman: We want to be fair to these representations. I don't went them to be. deprived of a possible subsidy. Cr McCready: There is time enough for them to say that, they don't' want to be in the major but if they wait for a Government survey to be made, it will be a case of Kathleen Mavourneen —maybe for years and maybe for ever. Cr Hunter: Is it the Council's responsibility to drain, these farms? What would happen on the Rangitai'ki if representations asked the Council to perforin the functions of a drainage board. Where is the money coming from? The ChairiXan: From two ridings. Cr McCready: They're not asking the Council to drain properties, at all. The Council comes into it as the authority. The petitioners are prepared to pay for it. Ihey are only asking for supervision and metal. Cr Butler said he. was quite happy about the new scheme and said he had consulted with various representatives. on the subject. They had nothing against the major scheme, but thought that something immediate should be done,. The County Engineer, in reply to a question _ said it would be haid to gauge the. exact depth of the floodgate' in view of future undertakings.There. would be cei tain amount of risk attached to the project.) Cr McCready then moved: "That as a charge of Taneatua riding tor gravel and supervision, Mrs- Frankland and six others be authorised solely at their own. responsibility to have erected - oil private property the. floodgate applied for —that, opinion be obtained on liability of settlers to clear willows from Waioho Stream."