RIVER MOUTH BAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20071, 18 October 1939, Page 8

RIVER MOUTH BAR

POSITION AT WAIROA POSSIBILITY OF FLOODS P.W.D. REPORTS RECEIVED ADVICE FROM MINISTER (Special to the Hoi'nld.) WAIROA, this day. Members of the Wairoa Harbour Board yesterday discussed at length a report concerning the outlet of the Wairoa River, suggestions contained in the report r*acie by the Public Works Department’s engineers being fully .considered by the board. Tito occasion was the monthly meeting of the board, which was held in Waikokopu. Correspondence on the matter also was received from the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, the Minister pointing out that unless conditions at the river-mouth changed there was a distinct possibility of the lower flats near Wairoa being flooded in the event of heavy rain and closure of the river mouth. The Wairoa Borough Council also sought information as to what action the board intended to take in connection with Ihe river-mouth, stating that if the board did not take early action, the council would be reluctantly compelled to consider doing something itself, serious damage already having been done to property owned by the council and its ratepayers. Engineers’ Recommendations The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, advised the board that departmental engineers had made preliminary investigations and had submitted reports. It would appear from the reports that unless conditions at the mouth of the river changed, there was a distinct possibility of some of the lower flats round Wairoa being flooded if heavy rain, occurred and the mouth did not open. The district engineer, recommended that the board should take steps to open a mouth to the east of the signal station as soon as possible. He ibblieved that, owing to the considerable difference in level between the present river level and the mean sea level, a suitable outlet could be made 'without difficulty, now. but in any case preparations should be made .for opening a channel during the next flood. The Minister said that the board, of course, would realise that altogether it was very desirable to open an outlet to the east of the signal station as early as possible, there was no guarantee that the outlet would remain there. To keep the mouth in a suitable position wou'd involve considerable expenditure and it would appear to be out of the question to repair the old trainin' 7 walls and maintain the river betwre' them. The Only feasible way seemed to be to construct a suitable training wall approximately on the line of the old concrete block near the signal station. The cost of the work was not known and further surveying and investigations would be necessary before proposals could be prepared. If the board was prepared to find half the cost of such a survey the Minister itimated that im would have the work done as soar as staff was available to do it. New Opening to Sea The Public Works Department’s engineer, Mr. N. R. Carter, advised the board that it. was considered that the best place to attempt to make a new opening to the sea was between the old training walls where part of_ a cut already had been made. The inspection on the scene confirmed the view expressed by the Public Work" Department’s engineer at Naoier, Mr Dinnie, that it would be possible to partly open up a cuf and to block the seaward end of this cut by timbers buried well in the -and and projecting about lift, above ‘he 1 ieh par* of the sand spit. The t>roj n ctir-'f timber would prevent the breaking wave washing .rands info Ihe partly tnarP cut. 'Bv doing this preparatory work now, it would be possible to open up Pee out quicklv when conditions of tl’o river and sea were favourable. So far as a general summary ff the position, was concerned it could be stated that the river was acting ■is a Ink 7 from the Signal Head to a little above Frasertown and that at tlie bridge the present average 10-« lwa s 2ft. above j lie previous spring tide level. With ordinary flow in the river it seemed unlikely that there would be any change for tlie better in tlie position of the rivermouth. If the board desired the department to carry out further investigations and report on the cost of closing tlie channel at Signal Head, the board’s share of the cost of such investigation would not exceed £2O. Attitude of the Board Mr. M, G. M. Williams moved that the department be thanked for the report and that in the opinion of the board the better course would be to allow the river-mouth to block naturally and the level of the water in the river to rise until sufficient weight of water was available to ensure a .strong flow of water through a new cut. The board would be glad to avail itso’f iff the assistance of the Public Works Department’s o-eineer-The motion was .seconded by Mr. G D. Tod, but was lost in favour of ar. amendment, moved bv Mr. I. Tavlor and seconded by Mr. F. 1,. lob! in, that the department be thanked for its report which the board erffuHv considered and would consider again if in its opinion, the suggestions were practicable when it was decided tc free the river.