LOAN PROPOSALS FOR HORNBY WATER SUPPLY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27499, 5 November 1954, Page 6

LOAN PROPOSALS FOR HORNBY WATER SUPPLY

The Paparua County Council has given notice that it will consider a motion to apply to the Local Government Loans Board fof its sanction to borrow £ 121,000 to provide a highpressure water supply for the Hornby and Islington districts. The council has asked than any objections be lodged by November 14.

An explanatory circular sent to every ratepayer affected outlines details of the projected system the loan. It says: “The provision of a permanent and adequate supply of water for domestic, commercial and Are fighting ’ purposes is a matter of the utmost importance to any community, and the council and the Hornby County Township Committee are of the opinion that the time is now opportune for the installation of a high pressure water supply system for the people of Hornby and. Islington.

“Hornby in particular is still by no means closely settled. This factor greatly influences the cost of providing high pressure water. The new State housing block between Hei Hei and Gilberthorpes roads will, when completed, contain practically the a same number of houses as the whole of the rest of Hornby. “Without the advantage of the new housing block forming part of the water supply district and paying for the water in exactly the same manner as other properties in the proposed scheme, it is very doubtful if Hornby and Islington could hope to finance such a scheme for a good many years to come.”

The advantages of the intended system are given as follows: *‘(1) Adequate domestic water of highest quality. “(2) Protection against the possibility of. pollution of shallow house wells due to closer settlement of the district and consequent increases in number of septic tanks. Residents are probably aware that the metropolitan drainage scheme will not be available to Hornby for at least six years. Water for Fire Fighters , “(3) Water in quantity and at high pressure immediately available for fire fighting purposes. Fire services now available and paid for are unable to operate at full efficiency owing to lack of water. A fire station is about to be established in the Sockburn district.

“(4) Sprinkler systems for fire control in industrial and commercial buildings would be possible. “(5) Swimming baths, now filled with race* water, could be supplied

with good quality water from the high pressure system to the benefit of health conditions of the many users of the baths. High pressure water would also be available to schools.

“(6) Certain of the water races through the township necessary at present for fire fighting purposes could be cut off with consequent improvement to the appearance of the township and reduction in danger to small children.

“(7) It is probable that the availability of high pressure water will increase the value of both house properties and sections in the district and encourage closer settlement:

“The proposed system is designed to comply with the standards of the Local Government Loans Board and Fire Service Council. It allows for an estimated 33J per cent, expansion of Hornby and Islington over the next 10 years and is designed in such a manner that it could readily be extended.

“Elevated storage will provide 75,000 gallons of water, sufficient to meet all demands in the event of breakdown in power or plant for approximately two hours. “The amount of the proposed loan to finance the scheme throughout both Hornby and Islington and to purchase from the Department of Housing the water supply installation throughout the housing block of 600 houses is £121,000. A 35 year term of loan is envisaged. “Although the scheme would benefit financially from all houses in Hornby connecting to the supply *qs soon as available, it is realised that there will be houses with their own efficient well supplies and there will be no compulsion eatcept for health, reasons on such property owners connecting, although it is probable that the advantages of the system will result in few houses remaining for long unconnected. •

“If connected to the supply, industrial establishments pay one half of the water supply rate levied on the capital value of their properties unless they use the water as part of their industrial process when, beyond a limited quantity, they would in addition pay at a rate per 1000 gallons of water used. Unconnected industries pay one quarter of the water supply rate.

“It is the Council’s intention to require the payment of a' substantial connexion fee for new houses which because of the availability of high pressure water are saved the cost of putting down a well -and providing a pump,’’ the circular says.