BOILER AT NEW UNIVERSITY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28801, 23 January 1959, Page 10

BOILER AT NEW UNIVERSITY

Minister Replies To Petition

Objections to the boiler plant to serve the hew Canterbury University at Ri'-carton have been answered by the Minister of Works (Mr Watt) in a letter to the member of Parliament for Riecartnn (Mr M. A. Connelly). Mr Connelly last November took to the Minister a petition on the subject from the occupants of 120 houses in the Montana-Creyke-Ilam roads area and made representations dn their behalf The residents’ objection was to the possibility of smoke, fumes, grit and noise nuisance. In his letter to Mr Connelly Mr Watt said he had made inquiries after receiving the representations “The decision to use solid fuel for this proiec* was made by the inter-departmental -committee on fuel and power after Investigation of all possible alternatives.” he said. “I can assure you that everything that can be done to obviate any nuisance will be done. “The possibility of resiting the boiler house has been examined and it is now proposed to have it erected about 100 ft from the rear of the nearest residential section in Montana avenue. “In addition, trees and shrubs will be planted to screen the buildings “The equipment to be installed will be designed to incorporate the most up-to-date smoke and grit arresting devices These will reduce to the minimum the possibility of any nuisance being imoosed on the neighbourhood. “All coal handling wil] take place inside the buildin'’ and will thus be fully enclosed “The yard around the boiler house will also be enclosed by a high wall. High Chimney “Care has been taken in selecting the site to ensure that under normal circumstances the prevailing south-west wind will carry fumes away at high level where they will be dispersed This is the reason for making the chimney as high as possible. _ “As the plant will be completely enclosed no disturbance from noise is expected, but the architect has been requested to give further attention to this point. “A fully trained and registered boilerman will operate this plant although in many of its essential features ft is fully automatic. “This will eliminate errors in the running and in the installation. In these circumstances the boiler house is not expected to emit as much smoke and fumes, even in adverse weather conditions, as would be emitted by a number of domestic open fireplaces. In these circumstances I can assure you that all possible precautions have been taken and that it is unlikely that the conditions expected by petitioners will be realised.” Mr Watt said Mr Connelly said it was to be hoped that many of the residents’ objections would be overcome and fears of nuisance allayed by what the Minister had had to say in his letter “The boiler house was quite close to several properties originally and now it is going to be 100 ft from the nearest property: that is quite a difference,” he said.