Sending Deputation About Sumner Pollution, Flooding

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30603, 20 November 1964, Page 14

Sending Deputation About Sumner Pollution, Flooding

Sewage disposal and stormwater drainage were discussed at length at a meeting of the Sumner Residents’ Association last evening. All members of the Christchurch Drainage Board had been invited but none was present. The association elected a deputation to attend the next meeting of the Drainage Board to point out the urgency of the sewage disposal problem in the south-east area and requesting urgent remedial action. The deputation will also approach the Health Department. The Drainage Board will also be asked to investigate the possibility of keeping water out of the Sumner drain. The president (Mr J. W. McNab), said people must realise how serious the pollution problem was. It was detrimental to the development of the area. Mrs E. Myers said if a typhoid epidemic broke out the Drainage Board would do something about it. It seemed every public body in Christchurch waited until something happened before it did anything. She said she had taken an

American friend down to the beach and had been deeply ashamed to see “that dreadful notice” put up. Mr P. Madden asked who had been given the authority to remove the notice and who was responsible for replacing it. He was told the notice had been erected by the City Council at the direction of the Health Department and it would be the council’s responsibility to replace it. As far as was known, the beach was not yet declared clean. Mr T. Handisides, a Clifton resident, said the council would not allow building permits or septic tanks in Clifton and the problem affected the whole of Christchurch. He said he believed that the sickness in Sumner at the moment —hepatitis—was caused by coming in contact with the polluted water. If it was a health hazard the question of money should not be allowed to affect finding a solution. There was loud applause when Mr N. Baguley said that if members of the Drainage Board would not go to the association’s meeting then they would go to the Drainage Board meeting.

Mr B. R. Hansen presented a report on stormwater drainage. He said reports had been made to the Drainage Board in 1957 and 1959. Some work had been done before the winter of 1958 and the flooding was alleviated but not eradicated. In December last year and July this year, Sumner had been subjected to serious flooding, said Mr Hansen. With heavy rain and spring tides coinciding Sumner could still suffer floods. “There is probably no area in Christchurch which receives flooding on such a serious scale,” he said. Diversion Suggested Mr Hansen suggested that water from a large catchment area feeding into the Godley Head road near Evans Pass and into Summit road could be diverted under the two roads into Lyttelton Harbour. He said when Wakefield avenue was reformed next year it would be a good time to put in a new stormwater pipe. “They will seal the road then two weeks later dig it up to put in a pipe,” said a voice.