County fire costs up

Press, 18 March 1982, Page 6

County fire costs up

The high number of fires this summer has' meant that the total paid by the Paparua Rural District Council in fire-fighting is almost three times the amount set aside in the council’s estimates.

It cost the council $2OBl in wages of council staff and expenses for sending out water-tankers to fight fires in the county area. Councillors at yesterday’s council meeting queried the expenditure. The County Engineer. Mr J. D. Annan, said that the expenses had been incurred for personnel and equipment used to put out grass fires.

The West Melton Fire Party, a volunteer group, had been called out to about 12 fires this year, he said. The only way the council could recoup some of the money was to take action against the person who had

started a fire. Usually the cause was unexplainable and it was impossible to determine who was responsible. It had been a particularly busy year because of the dry weatlier, said Mr Annan. Rural rubbish .The council has removed five of its rural rubbish collection bins from county roadsides. Signs had been placed at these points saying there was to be no further dumping, said Mr Annan. Residents within a radius of a kilometre of the bins had been asked to leave their rubbish bags for collection with someone on the collection route. , There had been no comSlaint about the removal of te bins, said .the council’s chairman. Mr A. Y. Shuker.

Recreation The community recreation adviser, Mr. Peter Walls, met the council to report on the recreational activities taking place. The increase in the number of and the membership of recreational clubs and groups within the council area was very pleasing, said Mr Walls. Roads Board Council members remarked on the report on county roads by the National Roads Board investigating team. “It is the first time the Roads Board has been so complimentary about roads in our area,” said Cr 0. Munro.