WHAKATANE RIVER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 72, 27 August 1947, Page 5

WHAKATANE RIVER

WIDESPREAD EROSION DAMAGE PETITION FROM OPOURIAO The turbulent Whakatane river has by reason of the widespread erosion caused by its waters, given rise to what is now considered a problem of primary proportions to the settiers living along' its banks. Over the past five years the position has become steadily aggravated owing to the almost total absence of corrective measures being taken.

The matter was discussed fully at yesterday’s meeting of the Council which admitted its inability to do anything until a Catchment Board was formed under the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council.

A letter from Mr G. A. Sykes was 1 tabled drawing attention to the river erosion taking place on his property. Councillors visited it some three years ago he said, and promised something would have to be done. Roughly about 100 acres of good land have been swept away, leaving just a bed of shingle. Before long, cow sheds and buildings would be taken. A bulldozer could probably do the cut in two days and save all this waste of good fertile land. / Inactivity Deplored , Councillors deplored the inactivity the Government in taking active measures on the Plains. Cr McCready declared that the P.W.D. spent more money in taking levels and getting data, that the actual cost of controlling the stream at its worst point. Cr Hunter drew attention to the bad «tate of disrepair into which the service drains had fallen over the past few years and declared that the council should insist on some statement from the Department as to what action it was going to take to rectify the present dangerous drift.

Cr Butler pointed out that it was up to those who suffered in this connection to make up their minds about the establishment of a localCatchment Board such as today were operating all over the South Island. It was inevitable in any case and until it was constituted he felt certain that nothing could be done to relieve the position.

A further letter from Mr A. F. McGougan, Chairman of the Opouriao Ratepayers Association, in connection with serious erosion in that district was also received. The writer stated that in connection with the representations made in the petition he could not too strongly urge that the matters represented be accorded urgency, for the Councillors, as practical farmers, would appreciate that unless willowing was done within the next few months, it Tyould be too late to tackle any willow protection work this season. At the meeting, the following resolution was also carried:—

“That this meeting, fully representative of owners adjoining the Whakatane River, urges that plain wire be made immediately available for urgent river erosion works.” '

A petition signed by* A. L. Richardson and 23 others, was also forwarded and read: “We, the undersigned, being property owners, bordering the Whakatane River in that section of the Opomfiao Valley situated between the combined rail and traffic bridge at Pekatahi and the traffic bridge at Ruatoki, desire to represent to your council the urgent necessity for the stabilisation of the Whakatane River in this sector. Serious erosion has over several years occurred and although remedial measures have in several instances been taken, in most cases at the cost of the property owner concerned, the stabilisation of the river is far from satisfactory. In one instance, through protective willowing being destroyed by a former land owner, up to 60 acres of heavy river silt land belonging to adjoining owners is now in danger of erosion.

Your petitioners understand that the Public Works Department has recommended your office to cancel the existing river control grant on the understanding that future pro-, posals for Whakatane River work be considered on their merits, any protection works authorised, to be supervised by officers of the Public Works Department. Your petitioners request that an immediate report be made on the above-mention-ed section of the Whakatane River and that monetary authority issue for the early re-commencement of the essential river protection works.

The County. Chairman reported that he had decided that the Opour/ao settlers’ petition be forwarded

to the Chairman, Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council with a supporting letter from the council and such letter was sent with the petition on the Bth August. The council approved the chairman’s action and also decided to draw the Rivers Control Council’s attention to the case of the damage to Sykes property.