FLOOD PROTECTION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 9

FLOOD PROTECTION

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F » Scheraes Suggestcd for Waipukurau

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WAIPUKURAU, Last Night. In a long letter before the Waipukurau Borough Council last night the district engineer of the Publie Works Department, Mr A. Dinnie, stated that to protect the whole of the boroUgh effectively, the Tukituki fiver stopbank should be continued down the river bank and returned to the Mt. Herbert road along the borough boundary. That, however, would be a fairly expensive job as the ground was rather low- lying. A cheaper scheme would be to return the bank from its present termination in a direct line to Mt. Herbert road. Before oither scheme could be attempted a detailed survey of the watershed south of Mt. Herbert road would be necessary, and a scheuio to contro.l the water from that area and conduct it through a floodgate in the stop-bank would have to be included in the estiniate. "You will recollect," stated Mr Dinnie in the same letter, "that the first estimate, empioying local uneinployed, was for £2420, of which your council was to find £400. This was later iucreased, wheu grassing and fencing costs were added, to. £2620, of which your council agrecil to find £500. The greater part of this extra £200 was for the extra cost of covering with soil suitable to establish grass, and the only fencing cost allowed for is £30 for possible re-Cstablishing of fences which may have to be moved 011 private property. In taking out the estimate it was never intended to fence off the stop-bank, as it is considered that When the grass has taken, cattle will be able to graze over it. However, in order to protect the stopbank before the grass is established, it will probably be necessary to fence off temporarily the bank near the approaches to the cattle ramp, but no elaborate or permanent fencing can be undertaken with the funds we have." Mr Dinnie added that some difficulty was being experienced in obtaining an agreement to enter and constTuct the stopbank on Mrs Murphy's property, and also on that of the Bailey Estate. Steps were being taken to have a proclamation issued, which would enable ihe work tj be done. Mr J. McCarthy asked if there was anv suggestion as to who would maintain the stopbank. The clerk-engineer, Mr H. B. Smart, replied that the council would maiiitain it, whereupon Cr. McCarthy said it was necessary that the bank should be properly fenced. The actual length of the stop-bank is to be about five and a half chains sliorter than the original estimate of 60 chains, and it xvas thought that if surplus money was left through this change it could be used for fencing, Tho council decided to reply that it had made its additional contribution of £100 on the understanding that the erection of a fence would be covered by the cost; and it was understood that a fence was nccercary between the two bridges. No action was taken to continue the stop-bank to protect the wkole of the borough.