River sediment buildup a concern for Alexandra
DR Daniel Collins’ (Niwa Climate scientist) predictions on Otago flooding frequency (ODT, 26.11.18) is a timely warning to try to avoid a similar catastrophic flood event that occurred at Edgecumbe, in the Bay of Plenty, from again happening in the Alexandra district.
Of concern is the relentless buildup of the sediment below Alexandra.
The Manuherikia has been depositing considerable volumes of sediment for some months where it flows into a highlevel Clutha, which stops its flow, thereby creating a deposition delta and raising the bottom of the river entering Lake Roxburgh.
The resulting backwater effect is bringing the level of the flood protection wall into question. The water level a couple of kilometres upstream of the flood wall is, according to Opus, 1m higher than the wall itself.
However, it seems neither the local CODC or the environmental division and hazards committee of the ORC (who are supposed to be monitoring Judge Jackson’s 2002 Resource Consents directives) are being very proactive in protecting the communities’ interests.
Dr Collins predicts, ‘‘What we can expect more or less, is that the largest floods will become larger and floods of all sizes will become more frequent’’. He goes on to say, ‘‘We cannot simply assume that flood risk will be the same in the future as in the past, which engineers and planners have done for decades’’, ‘‘nor can we wait for the floods to come, for then it will be too late.’’
I really hope Alexandra is not doomed to be another Edgecumbe or 1999 flood.
Stan Randle Alexandra District Flood Action
Society
Happy Holidays
IT is a relief to see (ODT, 27.11.18), the various faiths in Dunedin are officially happy with the message ‘‘Merry Christmas’’ being used on the Octagon tree, even though it is apparent they were uninterested from the getgo but appreciated being included.
Since when do we need to consult with these disparate faiths, as it should be a given that we are free to celebrate our Western cultural heritage as, and when, we see fit. Other cultures and faiths in Dunedin freely hold their festivals and religious ceremonies without any need to gain wider approval by ad hoc consensus.
The recent Hindu Diwali and Islamic Ramadan festivals come to mind. Let us not fall prey to the current hyper PC nonsense which says we should avoid offending the religious sensitivities of minority faiths at all costs. Most religions have pagan roots and Christianity and Christmas in particular are rife with pagan symbolism, so it is a tad precious to split religious hairs when it comes to labelling a pimpedup pine tree, which harks back to early pagan Viking and Saxon culture.
Perhaps the secular ‘‘Happy Holidays’’ slogan was in retrospect the best fit after all, seeing that there are more practising religious unbelievers than believers in most Western countries now, a statistic which is increasing year upon year. Stewart Webster
Halfway Bush
Church acceptance
WITH reference to the letter to the editor by Gregory Tanner (ODT 27.11.18).
If GLBTQ people are feeling unwelcome or rejected by their own church, should it be labelled ‘‘advertising’’ to let them know that there are places of worship where they will be safe, welcomed, and accepted as part of the unique creation of God?
I think not. Bev Sutherland
Dunedin ...................................
BIBLE READING: See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you. — Zechariah 3:4