Polluted water into Heathcote

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33941, 6 September 1975, Page 3

Polluted water into Heathcote

It would have been unlawful to have made a special case over the Christchurch Gas Company’s problem in discharging- 4m gallons of polluted water into the Heathcote River, the acting chairman, Mr M. J. O. Dixon, told a meeting of the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday.

Views had been expressed to the board that it would be unreasonable to withold permission for the company I to make the discharge from the base of the gas-holder that collapsed after the gale on August 1, he said. While it was argued by some that it was an emergency, and an exception should be made, others had told the board they were alarmed about the prospect of the company being treated as a special case. I The company had applied Ito the Christchurch Drainage

Board through the Catch ment Board for permissioi to make the discharg through the drainage board’ sewers. The Catchment Board, a it was required to do unde the Water and Soil Con servation Act, had adver tised the company’s appli cation on August 16, giving as necessary, 28 days for th, lodging of objections. Since then, the company by permission of the drain age board, has been allowei on a trial basis, to discharge some of the water througl the sewers to the river.