Thefts ‘endanger public’

Press, 23 June 1978, Page 10

Thefts ‘endanger public’

Vandals who damage or| steal road-marking devices at; construction sites, especially; warning lights, are putting the public in danger, the con-; ; st ruction and treatment! I works committee of the i !Christchurch Drainage Board} :was told. Contractors who do Drain-! age Board work have to provide adequate safety markings, but recently an increasing number of lights and bar- . ricades have been damaged i or stolen. The board has a policy of offering a $lOO reward fori information leading to the!' i conviction of anyone steal-ji ing or damaging such equip-i Iment. It was resolved thatp this policy be given greater!’ publicity. Smell problems at the New i Brighton pumping station 1 i which should be completed in ' March next year have been i caused by rotting leaves ] which, instead of going into i the water, were left to de- j compose while the water level above the Horseshoe ’ Lake outfall channel tidegate ’ I was lowered. ‘i

! A report said; “When the | . tidegates are completed and 1 : the water level dropped there could be a problem with! ■smells again for a period, iln the future when the I works are complete the situation should not be significantly different.” ! Consideration was given to: a suggestion that letters warning residents of impending smell problems be sent. Concern was expressed by the committee over reports that the Christchurch City Council may close its Bexley (tip sooner than scheduled. It (was said that the City had} j a legal obligation to deliver,; ithe tip site to the board in a; I satisfactory condition for development as a grazing site.! Urgent action was advised; in acquiring a new punt at; the treatment works, as pro-j vided for in the board’s esti-1 mates. Recently the two-man punt had been used by three; men with pumping gear, and; it had capsized. The men I were reportedly not too; happy about being dumped! into the treatment pond. I