DRAINAGE NEEDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 107, 8 May 1941, Page 8

DRAINAGE NEEDS

TAMAKI DISTRICT

CONSIDERATION DEFERRED

Drainage of the Tamaki district was discussed at a meeting of the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board this afternoon, and it was decided to defer the matter until the first meeting of the incoming board. The chairman, Sir Ernest Davis. said the board was now asked to consider and determine the immediate question of providing a main drainage system for the portion of the Tamaki area, which was to be developed for housing construction, but. at the same time consideration might be given to a system to provide for the whole of the Tamaki area, and also to provide for the disposal of trades waste effluents from the Penrose, Southdown and Westfield industrial areas, as the unsatisfactory conditions in that group of industrial areas fully warranted the early adoption of some permanent or temporary measures. Early Decision Xeeded Sir Ernest referred to the request of the Department to provide a main drainage system for the area, which was not incorporated in the board's district. An early decision was called for. Provision had been made for the particular area in the design of the Motukorea scheme of drainage adopted by the board, but deferred in 1939 by reason of circumstances consequent on the outbreak of war.

Sir Ernest added that it was impracticable at the present time to embark on any comprehensive scheme of abating unsatisfactory conditions in respect to the existing group of outfalls, which was one of the principal objectives of the Motu--1 korea scheme, but there was reason : to consider the possibility of meeting existing demands for drainage systems. Three Projects. Sir Ernest said that he had asked the engineer to advise the board on the probable cost, and relative merits and demerits, of three projects:— (1) An instalment of the Ivlotukorea scheme; <2) the utilisation of the board's main outfall plant at Orakei, and (3) an instalment of the Motukorea scheme with temporary treatment works and an outfall"of the Tamaki sewer. In a report the engineer. Mr. H. IT. Watkins. recommended that the trades' wastes disposal problem should be disregarded for the time being, and that a detailed survey and investigation should be made to determine the cost of an instalment of the proposal to provide only for the portion of Auckland City in the Tamaki area. Preliminary study indicated an expenditure of at least £85,000 to discharge the sewage effluent into the Tamaki River, it being understood that the proposed method of sewage disposal would be a temporary expedient only until such time as the Motukorea scheme of drainage would be available for that portion of the metropolitan district. Aerodrome Site During discussion the question was raised as to whether the Tamaki area at Point England would be needed for an aerodrome site. The city engineer. Mr. J. Tyler, said the experts had decided against a site there and the engineering investigation at the proposed Manukau site had not been completed. j After various members of the board had spoken the engineer's report was adopted and the matter was deferred.