High-rise block

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33538, 20 May 1974, Page 12

High-rise block

Sir, —I refer to the letter by Lynne Alexander, Action committee representative. I suggest we all agree to a plan for comprehensive development for the Sumner area. However there is one argument against high-rise-buildings which no-one seems to have considered. The City water supply in the area is not suitable for fire protection of a major building. The reticulation is a low pressure system operating at about one third of City pressure from a reservoir about 100 ft above sea level. Most of the pipes are only 3 inches in diameter on Scarborough Hill; on the eastern area only 2 inch diameter. These pipes are very old and were never intended for high pressure, A new large reservoir is planned to commence construction in late 1975 but to be properly used, all the reticulation in the area will have to be renewed. So I suggest no major building be allowed until we have a high pressure system in this area for proper fire protection.—Yours, etc., SUMNER RESIDENT May 17, 1974