Work on dredging the stretch of the Heathcote River between Radley Street and the Woolston Cut could begin in the next few months, according to the Christchurch City Council.
The Council’s Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee today voted to recommend the Council fast-track the planned dredging work to help reduce the flood risk in the area.
Dredging the 700-metre stretch of the Heathcote between Radley Street and the Woolston Cut will cost an estimated $3 million.
“ The proposed dredging is part of a package of flood mitigation works, including storage basins and the Flood Intervention Policy, that together will reduce the risk of the Heathcote flooding ,’’ commented Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee Chair Cr Pauline Cotter.
“ There are still some issues to work through but if the Council accepts the recommendation from the Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee we could see dredging under way in the Heathcote in the second half of this year ,’’ Cr Cotter added.
Council Land Drainage Manager Keith Davison said that the dredging between Radley Street and the Woolston Cut is stage one of a proposed three-stage dredging program aimed at increasing the capacity of the river channel to convey flood waters.
The next two stages involve:
“ Hydraulic modelling suggests about 60,000 cubic meters of material needs to be removed from the Heathcote to achieve the desired channel design ,” Mr Davison said.
The ITE Committee’s recommendations will be considered by the Council at its meeting on 22 February.
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