Outstanding 15 Years

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 19

Outstanding 15 Years

Although there is probably no infallible guide, past performance is generally one of the most reliable ones and, on this basis alone, people who support the Christchurch Drainage Board’s loans should have no qualms, for the board has a solid record of achievement behind it

The board district was extended by its act of 1951 to ' correspond with the eatcb--1 ment areas of the Avon, Heathcote and Styx rivers. i With the passing of the act, ' the board was faced with an extensive programme of sewer construction and land i drainage- works. , Essential public works sei- . dom merit much attention from the public and it is probably for this reason that it is not realised that the

board haa accomplished much more work since 1951 than it is generally credited with. In 15 years the board Doubled the number of units connected to the sewer sytem; Developed a new system of main sewers; , Constructed a new main pumping station and 21 additional permanent subsidiary pumping stations; - Installed an entirely new method of sewage disposal. In the same period the I board's loan indebtedness increased from $1,545,449 to $12,330,700. In fact, in those first 15 years the board’s project to meet the requirements of Christchurch exceeded in cost and extent the works carried out in the previous 75 years of the board’s existence.