Action soon on sewage?

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 12

Action soon on sewage?

Lincoln's overloaded' sew-age-treatment plant will soon be the subject of action by the North Canterbury Catchment Board. The board has decided to ask representatives from the Ellesmere County Council to attend the next meeting' of the water committee. Board members plan to discuss the council's proposals to improve the treatment plant so it will comply with water rights conditions. It ■ was also decided to write, to the council expressing concern about the overloading of the sewage treatment plant. The board will also tell, the council that connections to the scheme from new subdivisions are making the problem worse. ' . A water right for the discharge' of treatment effluent from the plant to the Lincoln College drain was issued to the Ellesmere County Coum cil last year, .after-a hearing on the: matter. : ' J The board’s regional water engineer (Mr M- J- Bowden) had told a previous meeting that during ■ the hearing it was found that the amount of discharge was more than the plant could cope with. The plant, was still being overloaded, said Mr Bowden, which meant that sewage effluent was being released from the plant. These releases did not comply with the water right. River weed Weed-cutting in the Cam

River will be discussed on the site next week. This follows complaints made last year by the Kaiapoi Borough Council and a commercial fisherman about the amount of cut weed which drifted through Kaiapoi township. According to the Litter Control Council, a $2OOO fine may be imposed for litter left on a public or private place without the occupier’s consent. The board’s deputy chief engineer (Mr B. P. Dwyer), had said that weed cutting cost about $6OOO a year. Removing the weed could cost about $30,000. The board, decided yesterday to discuss the weed cutting with the council and the commercial fisherman at Kaiapoi next week., Earthworks Board permission will soon be needed for some earthworks and clearing of vegetation on the Port Hills. The soil conservation committee had been told by the chief soil conservator (Mr. R. W. Cathcart) that serious damage could result from “imprudent land development practices” on the Port Hills. As a result the board sought authority from the Soil. Conservation and Rivers Control Council ,to control the clearing of vegetation on the Port Hills. This has been granted, and Port Hills landowners will need the board’s permission to —clear' 'vegetation from

January 31.. ~' . ■* Earthworks affected are those in Lyttelton- Borough, and those on the Port Hills in Paparua and Heathcote Counties. • Permission will be needed for vegetation clearance on some parts of the Port Hills. Clearance of up to bne hectare each year will not need the board’s consent. Soil grant . The board will ask for an extra $120,000 for, soil conservation works for the next financial year. ' . , If the grant is approved by the director of water and soil conservation, it will raise the total grant for soil conservation works to $445,000. Land use The executive committee will discuss the use of the board’s reserves land. Mr T. N: D. Anderson told the board that the rate of return on some of its land was 5 per cent, “nowhere near the rate of inflation.” People who lease our land are being extensively subsidised. We can do something about it,” he said. . . ; y “I do not think it is unreasonable that the board should assess rental on the going rate of land in the area.” But. the board's chairman (Mr M. J. O, Dixon) disputed Mr Anderson’s assertions. “The reserves are managed to produce the best return. It is not a question of going rates and subsidies,” he said.

But Mr Dixon agreed that the board should discuss the use of its reserves. It was decided that this would be done by the executive committee.. Salmon study An expert from Oregon State University may be brought to New. Zealand by the Lincoln College Foundation to study, salmon ranching in the Rakaia River.Trustees of the foundation invited the . board to comment on their proposal. Board members decided they would support bringing the salmon expert to New Zealand and would encourage any studies which helped bring about the better use of resources.