Over the years a thick layer of sediment has built up in the Woolston Cut, reducing its capacity to handle stormwater during heavy rain.
Contractors engaged by Christchurch City Council are now dredging the Cut to remove the build-up of silt and deepen the channel.
“ The dredging will increase the capacity of the Woolston Cut so it can take more water from the Heathcote. This work complements the other flood management projects we are working on in the Heathcote catchment to reduce the risk of private properties flooding ,’’ said Council Land Drainage Manager Keith Davison.
The dredging of the Woolston Cut requires several small dams to be built within the existing channel so that a long reach excavator can be used to remove the sediment.
The material dredged from the Cut will be loaded onto trucks and transported to landfill sites for disposal.
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