Plan To Alleviate Flooding At Poroutawhao

Chronicle (Levin), 10 March 1949, Page 4

Plan To Alleviate Flooding At Poroutawhao

A proposal to construct' a draln from lakes on the properties of Messrs.- J. A. Mitchell and Kilsby Bros. to connect with . the drain adljacent to the Levin-Foxton main highway is under consideration by. the Manawatu Catchment Biard. This advice was received in a letler from the board received at yesterday's meeting' of tne Horowhenua County Council, when it was 'pointed out that the existing 12-inch culvert under Oturoa Road was inadequate, and that flooding of the road took place. The minimum size of pipe for the culvert was 30 inches in diameter, commented the letter. As the road was under the control of the council, and a larger culvert would eliminate the further flooding, the board's engineer, Mr. P. G. Evans,-asked that the matter be placed before the county with the view to having the work carried out. A further letter on the subject, in this case from the secretary of the . board, Mr. L. J. Hagan, gave details of the proposed scheme. "A considerable area. of good land is placed^ out of production for several months each year as a result of the high levels maintained by two lakes on the Mitchell-Kiisby pro- ; perties," he said. As there was no outlet from the lakes, the water accumulaled during the wet season and the levels of the lakes rose several feet. At least five properties 'would benefit by an improvement in the drainage. The proposed work was to construct the drain mentioned above, to trim and clean the existing drain to the river, to construct stopbanks on both sides of the drain for a distance of 14 chains above Sloan's floodgate, and to lay nine-inch pipes, fitted with flaps, through the lower end of the stopbanks to discharge storm- water into the drain. "I don't know why, but in the 20 years I have been on this "council, I have never heard of any flood in that area," was the comment of the chairman, Mr. A. M. Colquhoun. "There must be a reasdn for the requiremer\t of an increase in,the size of the culvert, and I • think .the works committee should inspect the site and report back before any work is done." This was a job which wou'd give relief to some of the county's ratepayers in the area, commented Cr. J. D. Aitchison? adding that he considered that the matter should be placed in the hands of the engineer to expedite it. Cr. D. K. Guy gave his support to this course being taken. A short discussion followed and it was finally decided; in accordance with the chairman's suggestion, that the matter should be left to the works committee to deal with.