SEWER LATERALS TO PRECEDE ROAD WORKS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29623, 20 September 1961, Page 14

SEWER LATERALS TO PRECEDE ROAD WORKS

A policy for the installation of sewer laterals ahead of road reconstruction was fixed by the Christchurch Drainage Board last evening The board agreed that where roads were to be reconstructed it would require all occupied houses to be connected to the sewer before reconstruction, but that no action would be taken on vacant sections. Local authorities would be advised that if they required laterals to be laid to vacant sections, the board would do the work, provided the local authorities met the costs. The board was under fairly constant pressure from the City Council and other local authorities to install laterals to all unconnected houses and vacant sections in streets about to be reconstructed, the secretary (Mr T. A. Tuckeri reported. It was becoming increasingly difficult to meet the wishes and at the same time ensure that the laterals were installed at a reasonable

price, as drainlayers were

fairly busy with normal work and were not attracted to some of the more difficult areas where much of the reconstruction work was being done. South New Brighton being an example. In the case of existing bouses there was a reasonable chance of the board recovering the outlay within a short period as it could, if necessary, serve formal notices to connect if the sewer had been available for some time, Mr Tucker said. The board agreed to serve notices to connect to the sewer in New Brighton where approximately 150 property owner? have not taken action on a warning to connect.

“While ofher districts are crying out for sewers, it is amazing that there are 150 who could be connected and are not,” said Mr R. H. Stillwell

Part of the explanation was that many of the sections belonged to absentee owners, said the chairman (Mr F. R. Price).