Development plan wanted soon for bach area

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 9

Development plan wanted soon for bach area

A development plan for public land at Taylors Mistake should be completed as soon as possible, the Christchurch City Council’s community services and health committee said yesterday. Councillors rejected a renewed call by bach licence holders for a reprieve from the March, 1986, deadline for getting rid of the baches. They said the Christchurch Drainage Board should be urged again to consider providing a sewerage system for the residentially zoned area above the baches, and for public toilets at the beach. Councillors were told that 1983 tests showed “significant faecal coliform contamination” from the waste water pipes of two occupied baches. Sullage from the 48 licensed baches, which all have electric toilets, is discharged direct on to, or into, the beach and bay areas through open pipes.

“This is regarded as unacceptable pollution of a public beach and recreation area,” said a staff report. Seepage samples taken from natural water courses three times last year also indicated high levels of faecal coliform contamination, said the report. Cr M. F. Fahey said it was difficult to understand the source of such contamination when all baches used electric toilets. The Chief City Health Inspector, Mr A. P. Millthorpe, said that waste water could be contaminated by such things as babies’ napkins being washed. In 1982, the City Council urged priority for a sewagedisposal project for the residentially zoned area above the beach. “This would overcome present contamination, and would release further sections available for residential development,” said the

staff report. Cr Helen Garrett said the council should recognise the “unique contribution” made by the bach community by holding off on the removal policy until future development plans were budgeted and “absolutely ready to proceed.” The committee did not agree with that approach. Cr J. F. Burn said he, too, was concerned that a development plan might be drawn up without anything happening for 30 years. “We would not want to see that, either,” he said. Cr Rex Lester said that a draft development plan for public land could be available “in a matter of months.” Buildings affected by the council’s removal policy, adopted seven years ago, include the baches at Boulder Bay.