Diversion Of Creek Into Waimakariri Planned

Press, Volume C, Issue 29507, 8 May 1961, Page 20

Diversion Of Creek Into Waimakariri Planned

A scheme to take the water from View Hill creek, near Oxford, to the Waimakariri river by an open chute is to be investigated by the North Canterbury Catchment Board. Experiments will be made first with a model because of the height the water would have to be taken down between the creek and the river. The water from the chute would go about 250 ft through the air and enter the riverbed as spray.

Mr A. T. Bell, chairman of the rivers control and drainage committee, moved at Friday’s meeting of the board that, subject to an application from the Oxford County Council, the board proceed with the proposals for View Hill creek and instructions be given for a tentative classification of the area. A clause in the committee’s report said the following resolution was passed a*, a meeting at Oxford when alternative proposals for taking the water from View

Hill creek to the Waimakariri river were explained to representatives of the Oxford County Council and the ratepavers’ committee:— "The View Hill committee approves of the revised scheme submitted and considers it the best brought forward and requests the Oxford County Council to ask the North Canterbury Catchment Board to proceed with the proposals and prepare a tentative classification and that the matter be treated as urgent.” Mr Bell said this was very satisfactory, for it looked as If the alternative solution was more acceptable than th» first proposal. This alternative scheme was to have an open type chute and abandon the proposed scheme to have a dam. said Mr H. M. Heid, the board’s chief engineer. A greater area of the catchment could be tapped with a cut-off drain. This proposed drain would cross Woodstock road and go down a 275 ft terrace to the river. It would be a better scheme than the one to have a dam. It would save flood water from going down View Hill creek. The design of the chute had not been decided, but it would be about lift wide at the top and about 4ft at the bottom, said Mr Reid. It was proposed to turn it up in the air at the river end. and this would help to send the water about 250 ft out into the riverbed and prevent scouring. With the velocity and distance through the air the water would be more like spray when it went into the river. “In view of the great height we’ve got to get the water down we will have to have a model to do experimental work first,” Mr Reid •aid.

Mr C. S. Ayres said that if this scheme was carried out the board would not need to spend money on proposed work lower down the creek. Mr Reid said that Mr Ayres was partly correct, but there would still be some flood water in View Hill creek. “We expect that some improvement work will be needed to the creek lower down, but nowhere near the previous amount,” he said. New House A tender from Messrs Stewart and Morten of £2712 5s for the erection of a block house at Tai Tapu was accepted. Dr. G. Jobberns. chairman of the finance committee, said 11 tenders were received and they ranged from £2712 5s to £3llO. Fire Extinguishers The board accepted the tender of Carbonic Ice, Ltd., of £207 for 20 fire extinguishers for houses owned by the board. Finance A statement showing a credit balance of £24,484 at April 28 was adopted. The board decided to invest a further £4200 in short-term loans with the Waimairi County Council.