Deep Excavation Plan Disturbs Board

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 14

Deep Excavation Plan Disturbs Board

“This gravely disturbs us,” said the chairman of the water committee (Mr H. E. Connor), when the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday discussed a proposal by Certified Concrete, Ltd, to excavate up to 170 feet deep for the recovery of shingle. The company, in asking the Paparua County Council recently for town-planning approval, said that the pit, at the comer of Halswell Junction Road and Springs Road, could be part-filled and used for recreation, with a pond as a feature.

“The deepening of the pits might destroy or affect the quantity and condition of underground water,” Mr Connor told the board. The board decided to tell the council that it was strongly opposed to any deep quarry proposal that could pollute or affect underground water In the district.

Mr Connor was authorised to grant, if no objections are received by due date, an application from J. Wattle Canneries, Ltd, to draw up to 3m gallons of water a day for its proposed food processing plant near Hornby. “This is an effort to speed up, as requested, the granting of the water right. We are going out of our way in this unusual course,” said Mr Connor.

It was agreed to have discussions with the Christchurch Drainage Board to see if a general authorisation for the discharge of swim-ming-pool water could be framed. The board granted 39 water rights, 36 of them for farm irrigation. Other approvals permitted the R.S.A. Bowling Club to draw water for the greens from Victoria Lake, and the Ellesmere Golf Club to draw bore water for green watering. Reading.—“We have got to get down to a more precise understanding of where we are going,” said Dr W. R. Holmes, when it was agreed, if necessary, to call a meeting with the Paparua and Eyre County Councils to discuss access reading for the McLean’s Island recreational land.

Hatchery.—Marine Department plans for a salmon hatchery on the old north branch of the Kaiapoi River were approved with a proviso for maintenance of the stream, and Mr Connor said that approval would also be sought for a weir and watertight to serve the hatchery.