June 2, 2006

MEDIA STATEMENT

Better flood protection in Ashburton

Environment Canterbury contractors have just completed another stage in a three-year stopbank programme to provide Ashburton with a higher standard of flood protection. The stopbanks are designed to prevent a one-in-200 year flood in the Ashburton River causing damage to the Greenstreet area and are integral to ECan’s Ashburton River Floodplain Management Strategy.

“The latest stage involved the reconstruction and extension of an existing stopbank in the Ashburton River North branch and stretches over a distance of 2,250 metres, from Digby’s Bridge to approximately 175 metres downstream of Smyths Road,” said Ashburton regional councillor Angus McKay.

As well as stopbank construction, trees and vegetation and unsuitable material were removed, other areas were planted and restored and fences replaced.

“The next stage in the flood protection works, which on completion will cover the entire stretch from Jessop’s Bend to Ashburton, will start towards the end of this year. That will include building a stopbank on the north side of the river from Digby’s Bridge to Wakelins Road, followed by a south side stopbank, covering the same stretch,” said Cr McKay.

ENDS

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