HILLSIDE SEWAGE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30143, 29 May 1963, Page 17

HILLSIDE SEWAGE

Objections To Pond Some delay must be expected on a ministerial decision on the discharge of effluent from a proposed temporary oxidation pond for Mount Pleasant sewage into the Heathcote river, the Marine Department advised the Christchurch Drainage Board last evening. While the board’s request had been forwarded for the consent of the Minister of Marine (Mr Gerard) after recommendations from departments concerned, there had been representations asking the Minister to withhold his consent, the department said.

Replying to the City Council’s request for the cost of alternative schemes for dealing with Moun t Pleasant and St. Andrew's Hill sewage, the chief engineer (operations), Mr H. F. Page, listed: oxidation pond, £11,500; treatment plant in area, probably package type not including chlorination installation, which would be necessary, £20.000; pumping to proposed Woolston trade waste pumping station. £20,000; pumping to sewage treatment works in Bromley, £45.000. ‘The permanent plans for dealing with sewage from this area are involved in the planning for the Sumner and Redcliffs areas and these have not reached a stage when any date can be predicted as to when such works will be constructed,” Mr Page said. “Construction of a treatment works at the site would require chlorination of the effluent to reduce the bacterial count. The continuing cost of this would be avoided with the ponds, which was one reason for suggesting this form of disposal.

“In view of the isolated position of the site and experience in the North Island it is not anticipated there will be any odour problem and the midge problem is one which I do not think anyone could provide any guarantee on,” he said. “The prevailing winds do not blow towards the nearest built-up areas.” He added that the distance from the proposed ponds to the built-up areas were: Woolston, 60 chains; Heathcote Valley, 80 chains; Cannon Hill crescent, 15 chains.