SOLUTION WANTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 29, 4 February 1925, Page 5

SOLUTION WANTED.

TAKAPUNA'S WATER SUPPLY. COUNCIL'S DIFFICULTIES. AN APPEAL in TDK MINISTER. "It is bristling with diflieulties," said , the Minister of Health. Sir Maui Pomare, when the position at Takapuna lonsequent upon the Health Department's embargo on further subdivision and building on the land surrounding the lake was brought under his noticS -by a deputation from the Takapuna Borough Council this morning. Dr. Chesson. of the local Health Office, informed Ihe Minister of the • arrying out of the Department's dc- , vision to prevent further settlement on the no,injuries of ihe lake, so as to prevent the water being polluted. This restriction, he said, was quite consistent witii the regulations ul" the Lake Board ' of Control. 'The Takapuna Borough (own clerk llien explained the position the lo<-aI authority was placed in. Applications bad bce.h made ior subdivision and building permits on dedicated roads leading to tin- Jake foreshore. The Department said ibis building would lead lo contamination, and it prohibited it. and the property owners had threatened the council with legal redress. Although the Takapuna Horough was only one of four drawing water from ihe lake, it was the. controlling authority, and would bale lo defend any action. North.otc was not willing to contribute anything in the event of priHCedings. but Birkenhead and Devonport had otier.-.l £101) each. If the owners were successful in a claim fur compensation it would be a. very considerable sum of money that would be involved. There was approximately 30H acres of land in the catchment area, and this was moderately e-timated ti* be worth £100,000. Rut a more serious aspect from the council's point of viewwas the loss of revenue. When the area was fully developed, its ratable value on a capital basis would be abou'. £1.000.000. not a great deal less than thu rest of the borough at present. The Minister: I see you are hedged round pretty completely. What is your srlution? Mr. Hayden (pointing lo Dr. (liesson I: 'There is the man who is hedging us round. The Minister: I see only one solution; get another water supply. Mr. A. V". Fraer (representing tho Lake Takapuna Board of Control: We suggest the Government should take over the control of the lake basin. 'The Minister: Even then the water is not fit for use. You are only using ie tm suliranee. You will have to 7imt another source of supply. Mr. Fraer: You are overlooking the fact that we have a natural reservoir. It will cost millions to get another. The Minister: But it is contaminated! Mr. Fraer: The Health Hoard will pass it! Dr. Chesson: I'nder protest! Mr. Fraer: Well, it is going to taR» three or four years before we can abandon it. In the meantime, there is only one thing to ' do. The Government should protect us by buying. Mr. Hayden interjected "that this , would not be satisfactory to 'Takapuna, and the Minister said lie <|iiite agreed with him. The borough clerk emphasised tliat an action was imminent. Asked what the Government would be involved in by way of compensation it it took over the watershed, the town clerk said it was difficult to estimate; at least it Wu'illd he £200,000. Dr. Chesson stated that the property owners were fully aware of the regulations of Hie Board of Control. The ultimate solution for a water supply for the marine suburbs was the Taupo source. The Minister said that he would put the position before his colleagues. He would probably send someone" to Auckland to try and find a Bolution.