No sewerage, no subdivision

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33819, 16 April 1975, Page 19

No sewerage, no subdivision

lt was contrary to the public interest to allow’ more subdivision or building at Church Bay and Charteris Bay unless there w'as a sewage disposal scheme, Mr M. K. Edwards, of the Ministry of Works, told the Mount Herbert County Council town-planning hearings yesterday.

To his claim that the land 'was not suitable for septic ‘tanks, the council’s planning : adviser, Mr J. G. Dryden, isaid it was council policy not Ito allow subdivision unless all i sections could be connected to a sewer, or of a size big enough for septic tanks. The Ministry also objected to lack of provision in the plan for a sewage treatment plant site for Governor’s Bay. If the council was not going to reticulate the bay, all development should cease, said Mr Edwards. A similar objection was made in respect of Rapaki. The Lyttelton Harbour Board objected to a treatment plant being located at the head of the harbour, be-

cause of possible effect on the harbour.

Mr Dryden said the council would not proceed to provide sewers for Governor’s Bay. The council would see that each section was large enough to dispose of effluent. The council’s objective was to have low-density development, and it would be difficult and expensive to install sewers. If they were provided, there would be more pressure for closer settlement. For the Health Department, it was contended that in neither district was the soil suitable for septic tank discharge.