SEWAGE PROBLEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 221, 18 September 1930, Page 11

SEWAGE PROBLEM.

PROPOSED MILFORD DUMP.

RESIDENTS COMPLAIN.

COUNCIL YIELDS TO PROTESTS,

Yielding to the opposition of residents, the Takapuna Borough Council has resolved to abandon the proposal to build a sanitary depot, in the council's quarry site at Milford. At least onethird of the borough is imsewered, and it was suggested that a chute ehould bo utilised for the purpose of leading refuse direct into the sewer line at Milford. '.

Headed by Mr. G. C. Malcolm, Milford residents; were present in force at last night's meeting of the Takapuna Borough Council. Mr. Malcolm complained that some months ago a petition, signed by 500 residents had been lodged, but so far the " signatories had received no direct reply.

Claiming that the objectors had no conception of the type of plant suggested for use, the Mayor, Mr. J. W. Williamson, asked tlie Milford residents to co-operate with the council in investigating the proposal thoroughly. He referred to the position at, Mount Albert, where, he said, sewage is satisfactorily handled by a quite crude plant over 12 years old, quite different to the hygienic method proposed for Milford.

/ It was true, said Mr. Williamson, that they would have to abandon theirpresent chute at Eversleigh Road, legal action being threatened. It was also true that an application for. an injunction was threatened if the council persisted in the new Milford proposal, but he asserted that it could not , succeed, owing to the support of the scheme by the Health Department. Only one rest-, dent, Mr. A. Coles, could reasonably object; and it would pay the council to acquire his property. It was the plain duty of councillors to act upon the advice of its experts, and not to allow sentimental objections to over-rule their judgment. .

At this etage Mr. J. Guiniven moved: "That the town clerk be instructed to inform the Medical Officer of Health that the Takapuiia Borough Council has no intention of installing a sanitary dump on the suggested site at Milford, and that it does not desire, the Health Department to compel it to do so. The council will, of its own accord, instal a dump complying with the - Health Regulations so eoon as a satisfactory site has been secured, preferably outside the borough." ; i :,,,■■'•".• .

Mr. Guiniven said that a "storm in a teacup" had been in evidence concerning storm water in-tho borough. sewers, but the new proposal would result in thousands of gallons of water going weekly into the sewers. , '■':■"",

A large area of the borough was still unsewered, said Mr. L. H.'Titchener, and these people were beiiig charged drainage rates. Were, the- financial interests of the greater part of the borough to be sacrificed in the interests toi a section at MHford? He was satisfied that the engineer's proposal for the handling of the sewage was a sound one.

After a. long-discussion, the' motion was carried, and the deputation withdrew after expressing its thanks for the council's decision.,.