STRONG PROTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 17, 21 January 1933, Page 12

STRONG PROTEST.

DRAINAGE SCHEME.

PRGPOSED MILFCRD OUTFALL. REPORT UNDER CRITICISM. The Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board's scheme for a sewer outfall and treatment works at Ranopara Point, near Castor Bay, as recommended in a report by the board's engineer, Mr. H. H. Watkins., following his recent world tour, was strongly condemned by a large meeting which was held at Milford last evening.

The meeting was one of ratepayers of the Takapuna riding of the Waitemata County Council and was convened by Mr. J. C. Rennie, the riding member, and Mr. W. A. Bishop, chairman of the Waitemata County Council.

The proposed sewerage scheme wa6 fully discussed by' a number of speakers and a strong committee was appointed to work with the council in fighting the proposal.

Mr. W. A. Bishop presided over an attendance of 200. Those present included Sir James Parr, C.M.G., Mr. A. Harris, M.P., and Professor A. P. W. Thomas.

"If the scheme proposed by Mr. Watkins is adopted all the beaches between Castor Bay and Waiwera will be affected," said Mr. Bishop. "We are justly proud of our beaches and look upon them as a heritage for all time." Mr. Rennie, armed with Mr. Watkins' lengthy report, from which he freely quoted, pave an outline of the scheme and mentioned that at present the indebtedness for sewerage for the boroughs of Takapuna, Devonport and Northcote was, respectively, £179,000, £01,000 and £38,000. Mr. Watkins' report, he added, was viewed with great alarm by all who used the coast beaches. He contended that the scheme had been hastily conceived and if proceeded with would only destioy the beaches. The most remarkable fact about Mr. Watkins' report was that he admitted that float teste had not ret been carried out, yet he wanted to install an outfall and treatment works for the northern area at a point between Red Bluff, near Campbell's Bay, and Ranopara Point. Sewage would not be carried out to sea, even if finely screened, but would be washed back on the beaches because of the peculiarities of the local currents. The Orakei Lesson. Speaking as a property owner at Crown Hill for the last 20 years, Sir James Parr vigorously condemned the proposal by the Drainage Board. Any measure, he said, which threatened the amenities of health and amusement was vital and'should be fought, especially such a scheme as promoted by Mr. Watkins. Sir James said that it was on his motion, about 20 years ago, tnat the eminent British drainage engineer, I Mr. Midgley' Taylor, came to Auckland to report on drainage matters. Mr. Taylor planned the sewage works at Orakei and said there would never be any danger of pollution. "That was 20 years ago, and the big Orakei scheme which cost £2,000,000 has "failed," said the speaker. "There has .been pollution in the surrounding bays. ;"Even this great engineer was wrong. I merely mention this to show how careful we should be in considering the present scheme. You can blame me if you like for Orakei, but at the time we did our best. I am very dubious as to whether the sediment and sludge tanks suggested by Mr. Watkins will be effective. Mr. Watkins is a good engineer, but we should yet seek other experts' advice first."

[ Sir James Parr said he did not expect that support would be received in fighting the proposal from Northcote and Birkenhead. They would not care if their rubbish was discharged near Milford. "But we certainly object- to having the outfall for 75,000 people in the northern area," he added. The Drainage Board had no jurisdiction over the North Shore, but by an Order-in-Couneil —which was a popular method at present (laughter)—the Minister of Health could incorporate the whole of the North Shore in the drainage area. They should see that no legislation was passed that would help the scheme until fuller consultation with the people.

"A mistake was made over Orakei, and the Drainage Board now admits that," continued Sir James. "Let us see that another mistake is not made here. I now see that instead of releasing tho Auckland sewage at Orakei, we should have taken it into the open sea at the Manukau Harbour." (Applause.) Heedless Alarm, Mr. Harris said he thought that needless alarm had bemi manifested, as he did not think that the board's scheme had even been considered by the boroughs affected. He did not believe the scheme would be adopted without! the greatest investigation bv the local bodies concerned, also by the Government.

Sir James Parr: I don't agree with y° u f- hat there is needless alarm. Some of the local bodies have already conferred with the Drainage Board. The medical officer of health at Auckland has already agreed to the scheme.

Mr. Bishop said he knew that the Drainage Board was working thoroughly and quietly. J Professor Thomas said the people of the beach districts were not the only ones who enjoyed the clean beaches, but the whole of the citizens of Auckland. We are the trustees for those people and we should light the proposal strongly," he said (Applause).

Mr. White, an engineer, pointed out that already Takapuna had the nucleus of a fine sewage scheme. He thought it advisable that the existing system should be fully investigated. All that was required was that it be augmented.

Representatives of the Brown's Bay Develo'pment Association, Mahurangi Bay, Campbell's Bay, Castor Bay Ratepayers' Association, and other districts all spoke against the proposal.

After further discussion the following resolution was unanimously carried: "That this meeting of ratepayers of the Takapuna riding , of t the Waitemata County Council, having fully discussed the proposal of the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board's engineer, that the sewage outfall and treatment works for the northern area should be at a point between Red Bluff, near Campbell's Bay and Ranopara Point, near Castor Bay, views with alarm the proposal, in that it would irreparably damage the east coast beaches and destroy their usefulness and popularity, and this meeting therefore enters its emphatic condemnation of the proposed scheme." '■*?'

A committee was appointed to wait upon the local bodies concerned, and it was also decided to eend copies of the resolution to the Minister of Health and the Et. Hon. J. G. Coates.