FUTURE OF EDGECUMBE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 75, 17 May 1946, Page 5

FUTURE OF EDGECUMBE

MINISTER’S FIRM STAND

•MEETING LOCAL RESIDENTS

CANNOT IGNORE EXPERT OPINION

“It would be folly if I were to ignore the genuine opinion of departmental engineers who are recognised as experts in their respective spheres,” said the Minister of Lands (Hon. Skinner) addressing a meeting of some sixty district residents of Edgecumbe in Bell’s Hall yesterday, when a strong plea was put forward by Mr lan Gow, on behalf of the local committee to remove the subdivisional ban now placed upon the township. It was very clear from the Minister’s emphatic language that he was in full support with the contention that Edgecumbe, being dependent upon the protection of river stopbanks, was a highly dangerous site upon which to allow a thriving township to develop. The whole matter he said would be made the subject of a special report to the Government.

Mr lan Gow, who was introduced, by Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., made a masterful presentation of the position as seen from the point of view of the present householder, businessman and dairy Directorate. He emphasised the overwhelming public opinion in favour of permitting the present township on the site it now occupied to develop naturally and outlined the history of the present situation since the first decision of the Surveyor-General to place a ban upon all future subdivisions, in 1945. The Rangitaiki Dairy Company, he said was so vitally interested in the question that it-had promised to build five houses for its staff members providing the State Housing Department did likewise. The proposition had been agreed to and yet 'the whole business was held up on account of the Lands Department Officers adverse report as to Edgecumbe’s dangerous situation. Centrally Situated

Edgecumbe, he said, was already the naturally situated centre for a large and thriving country district, and there was general opposition to the suggestion that an alternative site should be created near Awakeri. If anything the popular consenus ‘of opinion should be to create a new township near Otakiri, or further away from Whakatane. Mr Gow admitted that in the early days Edgeicumbe had been founded in spite of a departmental warning as to its unsuitability, but he contended no person on the existing directorate or in the town had any knowledge of the warning, and in spite of the recommendation of the Departmental officers, all were agreed that it ■could be developed quite satisfactorily on its present site, where the danger from flooding was negligible. No Serious Flood Damage There had never been any serious flood damage. No live's had ever been lost and stock losses were very slight. Water had only once invaded a house, and within 12 or 14 hours when the river abated all the face water disappeared. The residents who knew the vagaries of the river contended that all that was needed was the provision of adequate stop-banking to remove all possible risk from flooding. Drainage officers were agreed too that by deepening and straightening the river by means of long-reach dredging much of the present tendencies to flood, would be removed.

control Dam Advocated

Mr Gow mentioned also the possibility of a hydro-electric scheme for the Rangitaiki, which could serve the dual purpose of controlling the flow of the river and creating electrical energy which was so urgently needed at the present time. Likewise the afforestation work which would be carried on in the headwaters of the river would mitigate against the chances of flooding and possibly overcome them altogether.

Definite Decision Requested

The whole question of the future of Edgecumbe was now bound up in the decision to place the ban on the town, and residents would welcome a statement one way or the other as to whether it was to be lifted or whether the Government was still bent on its rumoured de-

sire to remove the settlement to another place. While this uncertainty prevailed a degree of direct hardship prevailed. Owners could not sell their houses; returned men could not get the backing of rehabilitation.

“What we would like to ask you,” said Mr Gow, “is this— Will you be definite with us at

the earliest possible moment? Is • the Government determined to sustain the ban on the town? Is it considering an alternative site? If so is it contemplating the granting of compensation to those property holders who will be sacrificing their equity and goodwill?”

Messrs. W. Hunter and W. A. McCracken also spoke pointing out the consolidation of the town, which possessed a large school, and special water service facilities. The latter mentioned that between 1926 and 1944 there had been no floods, and that the two which had eventuated recently were due entirely to the stop-banks being utterly neglected. The Minister Replies In his reply, the Minister said he fully realised the feelings of the residents of Edgecumbe, but when a Minister received what were apparently well-based reports from his officer-experts upon a certain matter, he was bound to be guided by them. It had been proven that the safety of Edgecumbe depended entirely upon stop-banks. That was a risk in itself! He had had any amount of experience of protective river works costing millions being swept away in a few hours. It would be folly to go on. with the deliberate development of a town where anything like this risk obtained. In many such places there were no alternative sites for the town, but here at Edgecumbe there wajs!

No Powers to Stop Building

The Department had no powers whatsoever to stop the private individual from building in Edgecumbe if he or she so wished. All it had done was to stop subdivision, for which he thought the Department had a very definite responsibility. It was a big subject which could not be disposed’of lightly. As far as the Rangitaiki river went he considered that no other river in the Dominion had had its catchment less interfered with. If anything, in the event of forest fires and milling the floods were likely to get worse —not better.

Agreement on New Site

If all parties could agree on the fresh site, some progress could be made. He personally would definitely agree to reasonable compensation being paid to those who suffered loss or inconvenience by such action. His department favoured the idea that the town shoul£ shift slowly to a new site which would grow steadily. However he was not prepared to say yes or no to the question. It was too big even for. any individual minister to form any conclusion on, and it was not for him, as a comparative layman to set up his opinion against proven engineers. The whole matter would be made the subject of a complete report which would be submitted to the Government for consideration. No postive infoi illation would be forthcoming till then, but he felt he could ?: V ly prophesy that wherever Ediccumbe was founded it was destined to become a big town. In answer to Mr J. L. Burnett’s request that the matter be made as urgent as possible, in view of the progress of the town which was now being held up, the Minister promised to do his best to bring about an early decision.