Battle over Manawatu River erosion

Foxton farmer Jack Barbour fears continuing erosion of a Manawatu River bank could trigger a breach which would wipe out the Foxton township, on State Highway 1.

Mr Barbour said that since the February floods the section of bank bordering his property had been continuously undermined by the river to a depth of more than 11m.

"If this breaches - which it will, I'm sure of that - it will wipe out Foxton," he said.

Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council operations chief Allan Cook said he was confident Foxton was not in any danger. Council staff were working on designs to repair the erosion on several sections along the riverbank.