WATERSHED QUARRIES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 9

WATERSHED QUARRIES

NORTH SHORE PROBLEM.

OPERATION TO CONTINUE.

Permits to continue operating quarries within the Lake Pupuke gathering area ■were applied for by the Birkenhead and Northcote Borough Councils at a special meeting of the North Shore Borough Water Board last night. A by-law passed last October made it neceseary to obtain a permit before operating a quarry. The Takapuna members of the board, Mr. J. Guiniven end Mr. C. H. M. Wills, claimed that the Birkenhead and Northcote members should not be allowed t:> take part in the proceedings on t'.ie ground that they were interested parties. It was claimed they had already intimated that, if permits were not granted, the councils would take legal action.

In accordance with an opinion given by the board's solicitor, Mr. A. M. Gould, the chairman, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, ruled that the Birkenhead and Xortheote delegates could remain. Appearing for the two boroughs, Mr. E. D. Baxter described the precautions that were taken at the two quarries to prevent any possibility of pollution of the lake water. He said there was much less protection against pollution from the many private houses, a public park and farme in the gathering area of the lake. Not only was it unfair, but useless, to close the quarries and leave other source* of pollution. From the terms of the by-law, it was clear that no such drastic notion as prohibiting the quarries wa«3 contemplated, but only the imposing of conditions on their operation.

A motion that permits be granted under safe-guarding provisions prescribed by the board was carried by four votes to two, Mr. Guiniven and Mr. Wills opposing it. An amendment by Mr. Guiniven that the matter stand aver until the report of experts on future sources of supply had been made was defeated.