Little River water awaits tests

Press, 16 April 1984, Page 6

Little River water awaits tests

Little River’s water supply problem looks unlikely to be solved quickly. The Wairewa County Council was told on Friday that the Health Department had not yet tested how bad the “dirty and contaminated” water was. It also received another letter of complaint enclosed with photographs of water drawn from a resident’s tap. The county foreman, Mr D. Henderson, said that the supply’s system had been altered but that that would not prevent the water from becoming dirty. The installation of a filter would for a short while rid up to about 56 per cent of the sediment but after heavy rain it would be polluted again. The main problem occurred when Police Creek, from which the supply was drawn, flooded, and the flood waters ran into the supply. Councillors were told that even if all the foreign bodies were removed, the contamination level would still be high. Cr M. R. Waller suggested chlorinating the water but the County Chairman, Mr W. J. Thompson, said that

many people might not then drink it. Cr E. A. Hutchinson said that the council should look at springs in the area from which the water supply could be drawn. Mr Thompson agreed that there were plenty of springs but none with enough water for the town’s supply. The council decided to study alternative water supply sources and the chlorination of the present supply. Mr Thompson said that a letter of reply should also be sent to the complainant explaining that the council was attempting to alleviate the problem and was still waiting for the health department to test the water. Fire restrictions Fire restrictions in the county will be lifted on April 18. Cr D. N. Cadman said it was ludicrous that the restrictions were still in force. He suggested their immediate removal. Cr M. R. Waller supported him, and said that keeping it on negated its importance in times of real fire risk. Mr Thompson said that continuing the restriction

was a precaution in case the weather had remained dry. Advertising the lifting of the restriction “on and off could have created problems, he said. The lifting of the restriction will take effect on April 18. This will give the council time to advertise the move and change the county's fire restriction signs. Cr Cadman said that there seemed to be confusion as to when the restriction was to be lifted. Many people believed that it was lifted automatically at the end of March. The County Clerk, Mr W. F. Aydon said that restrictions could only be lifted after a council decision. Puaha bridge The bridge on Puaha Road will be redecked and others in the county will be investigated. Mr Henderson said that the bridge was badly in need of repair. “Every second plank on

the bridge is rotting. It is absolutely shot,” he said. Mr Thompson said a number of bridges in the county might be in the same condition. Promotion council A further request from the Canterbury Promotion Council for financial assistance has been declined by the council. The council has turned down a similar request twice before. Cr E. A. Hutchinson said that although he supported the work being done by the promotion council, he felt that financial contributions should be made by businesses such as motels and motor camps, rather than by local bodies. Businesses benefited from the council’s work the most, he said. Mr Thompson said that he would not like the promotion council to think that Wairewa did not support it. The council did a very good job but there seemed

to be many different groups doing the same thing, he said. Wairewa council decided to send a letter saying it supported the council’s work but “did not see the way clear” to make a financial contribution yet. Expenses Cr Cadman said that he would no longer accept the financial allowances made to councillors. Cr Cadman resigned from thp works committee last month without giving reasons. After the meeting yesterday he declined to comment on why he was refusing the allowances. Mr Thompson said that the allowances were a growing concern among councillors throughout New Zealand. He commended Cr Cadman for his “noble” gesture and suggested that the finances of local bodies might be in a healthier state if councillors followed the example of Cr Cadman.