Drainage Board section

Press, 14 September 1981, Page 16

Drainage Board section

Sir,—The Christchurch Drainage Board has a section in Heberden Avenue, Sumner, for sale by tender. There are two conditions: before the section can be built upon, the board insists that it be filled and suitable drainage arrangements be installed for the land is subject to flooding. I believe that the sale' of this section is improper, perhaps illegal. On at least one other occasion the

Drainage Board has ruled that a section owned by a member of the public be filled, etc., to the board’s requirements, before it could be sold. Is not sauce for the goose good for the gander?—Yours, etc., PATRICK O’NEILL. September 1, 1981. [Mr P. J. McWilliam, chief engineer, Christchurch Drainage Board, replies: “The board could have, quite legally, sold this section without any prior requirement as to fill or drainage. However, the, board is aware that this section has been subject to flooding and yy has.y in .the.’conditions of sale drawn this to the attention Of prospective purchasers and has required, as a condition of sale, that the land be filled to a specified level and that peripheral drains be installed before any building can be erected. This section is a lot in its own right and must not be confused with a proposed lot in a subdivision which must be filled before the plan can be approved and deposited-, and a Certificate of Title issued."]