Rain damage expected to cost Akaroa $250,000

Press, 30 August 1986, Page 9

Rain damage expected to cost Akaroa $250,000

Damage from heavy rain in Akaroa County in the past two months would cost more than $250,000 to repair, the Akaroa County Council was told yesterday. The County Engineer, Mr Ken Paulin, said further heavy rain last weekend had resulted in extensive slipping, particularly in the inner harbour area. Two slips in Hempieman Drive, Akaroa, had cut away frontages of four holiday homes resulting in a loss of services. Staff were working to clear debris from water tables, Mr Paulin said. Before last week-end' the Ministry of Works and Development had approved a 65 per cent subsidy for flood damage totalling $127,000. The lat-

est damage is estimated to add another $BO,OOO to $lOO,OOO. Fitch farm An application by a Long Bay farmer, Mr Philip Narbey, to establish a fitch farm was approved, subject to certain conditions. Mr Narbey plans to breed up to 1500 fitches within the next two to three years for fur. The animals will be kept in wire cages in three shed. They will eat raw fish and offal now being dumped by local fish processing plants. Approval was subject to a record being kept of all pits used for solid waste disposal. Solid waste such as bodies or droppings, must be covered with 200 mm of earth or treating agent. Liquid waste must be disposed of in a boulder pit. A proposed road through the middle of the bay was required and a proposed recreation reserve would have to be changed. Wairewa clerk Several councillors

were concerned about' a proposal by the Wairewa County Council to share its administration services with Ellesmere County Council. The County Chairman, Mr Tad Harris, said the news was a “bombshell” in the light of developments on amalgamation between the two councils. The councils recently formed a joint sub-com-mittee to prepare an amalgamation document.. This is being put together by the Local Government Commission conciliator, Mr Doug Pearson. Cr John Corboy said the administration suggestion would create a problem for amalgamation. Mr Pearson should be informed, Cr Corboy said. The council decided to write to Wairewa County Council to say it was concerned that it had not been notified. Councillors learnt about the proposal in yesterday’s edition of the “Akaroa Mail.” The paper said the Wairewa County Clerk, Mr Bill Aydon, was retiring and the council was negotiating with Ellesmere County Council about future administration services.