Culverden sewage plans rejected

Press, 7 October 1985, Page 14

Culverden sewage plans rejected

A standing tribunal of the North Canterbury Catchment Board has declined two applications by the Amuri County Council to discharge treated effluent from Culverden. The first application was to discharge treated sewage via a border-dyke irrigation system. In the second application, the council sought to discharge treated effluent and stormwater into School Creek. A third application, to discharge in emergency some untreated sewage and stormwater into School Creek, was passed by the tribunal and the board later

deferred any decision. Dr A. J. Sutherland said at a meeting of the board’s resource committee on Friday that there was little point in accepting the third application. “The town’s sewage is not connected up with any discharge system but flows into septic tanks,” he said. “So why give permission for emergency discharge?” The tribunal concluded that discharge into an unnamed stream, south-west of School Creek, would be less harmful than discharge into School Creek. The proposed irrigation area for sewage disposal could not

adequately absorb effluent to the proposed rate, it said. “The influence •of the Waiau Plains Irrigation Scheme on groundwater levels in Culverden when the scheme is fully developed, could compound the limitations of the irrigation

site,” the tribunal report said. “The tribunal is also satisfied that the flow in School Creek is not sufficient at times for adequate dilution of the effluent" Fringe tax The board is liable for

about $BOOO fringe benefit tax a year. The chairman, Mr R. B. Johnson, said at Friday’s administration meeting that ratepayers would have to foot the bill

“Our staff must have the cars that come under this tax,” he said. “This is essential to public safely, particularly in the event of widespread flooding.” His motion that the board ask the Catchment Authorities* Association to make a case to the Government on the need to use the vehicles, was endorsed.