Council's Decision On River Stop-bank

Grey River Argus, 8 October 1948, Page 8

Council's Decision On River Stop-bank

At the Borough Council meeting last mgnt, tnexe was mucn discussion over uie proposed river siop-uaiiK at Hanna’s farm. Ur J. M. Fairbairn said that whete the stop-hank was io he erected tnere was a lot oi fanning tana and n uic water came in nenmd, n wouid Pl'cmably ruin the farm. The Council wuulci oe wen acivisea to leave tne responsioilities to tne Marine Department. . , , me Council had before It the following letter irom Mr A. C. Bascanu, secretary oi tne Westport Harbour Advisory Committee: — "Representations were made by the Westport riaropur Advisory Committee, to both the English and New Zealand Committees ox engineers winch reported upon Westport Harbour to tne Hon. Minister ioi marine, tnat tne auove proposed stopoani< across the low section oi tne liver bank where overilow waters m iyzo nouaed Westport, and of course me area in Buller County en route, should be constructed, moth committees confirmed the advisability of this, but intimated their view tnat it was “rather to be initiated by the local authority likely to be affected oy any flooding.” However, the Harbour Advisory Committee recently presented a definite proposal to tlie Marine Department, tnat the Department carry out the work which was estimated to cost £llOO. “At the meeting to-day the Advisory Committee reecived and considered a reply from the Secretary for Marine which reads: ‘With reference to your 1/9 of June 22 a full copy of your report was forwaded to tne Commissioner of Works so that his concurrence could be obtained in the matter of Cabinet approval for £llOO to cover the estimated cost oi the work.

The Commissioner of Works is firmly of the opinion that no action should be initiated by the Minister ot Marine in this matter as future floods which might overtop the stop-banks could cause damage thus laying this Department open to claims from the local authorities. The Commissioner has discussed the subject with the chairman of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council who shares this opinion also. The suggestion has been made that you write to the Westport Borough Council pointing out the recommendation of the West Coast Harbours’ Committee, and asking the Council whether it is prepared to submit to the Government a request for financial assistance in the construction of the stop-bank. If the Council is prepared to make sucn a request the matter could then be considered by the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council for allocation of a subsidy and in this way the Marine Department would be freed ol responsibility on what is a matter ol river control. It would thus appeal that, although in the past this Department has been required to take responsibility for the construction of stop-banks in the higher reaches of the river, the creation of the Soil conservation and Rivers Control Council now diverts the responsibility to that Council. “In accordance with the foregoing then the Advisory Committee refers the matter to the Borough Council for consideration and with the suggestion that the Council take the furthei action in the matter. At the same time a copy of this letter is being forwarded to the Engineer-Clerk, Buller County Council for similar consideraU °On the Motion of Cr. C. H. Thomas it was agreed to elect two borough delegates, Crs J. Cunliffe and P. McDonald, along with two County delegates, to the advisory committee to go into the river control matter further.