Sewerage schemes speeded

Press, 27 November 1986, Page 7

Sewerage schemes speeded

Health Department subsidies higher than expected have speeded progress on the BrooklandsSpencerville and Taylors Mistake sewerage schemes. The Christchurch Drainage Board resolved last evening that the finishing dates for both of the schemes be brought forward to mid-1988. Originally the Brook-lands-Spencerville scheme would have been completed in early 1989 and the Taylors Mistake scheme at the end of 1988. The report of the board’s development and construction committee said the BrooklandsSpencerville scheme had attracted a 36 per cent subsidy from the Health Department. The increased subsidy means the projects will cost the board a lot less. A total of $3,150,000

was originally budgeted for the schemes. In the revised estimates the net cost to the board is $2,016,000. "The higher than expected Health Department subsidy for BrooklandsSpencerville sewerage significantly reduces the pressure on a board capital works funding, and may therefore allow the scheme timing to be advanced,” the report said. The increased subsidy will mean that work on the Taylors Mistake scheme will be done in the holiday off-season. Plans by the North Canterbury Catchment Board to complete the Kainga sewerage scheme by the end of next year have forced the board to finish the Brooklands-Spencer-ville scheme as quickly as possible. The Kainga scheme is adjacent to the board’s scheme and will not be able to work until it is completed.

Flooding The board received a petition from Riccarton residents concerned about flooding in Harakeke Street. The Waimairi District Council had also written to the board. The report of the development and construction committee said the flooding was caused by sump blockages in Straven Road. A sump blockage in Harakeke Street and a lack of stormwater drainage for a group of properties had contributed to the problem. The board approved a three-stage plan, costing $65,000, to solve the problem. New sumps and piping will be installed in Straven Road and stormwater piping will be installed in Harakeke Street. The cost of this • work will be met by the board and the Waimairi District Council.

A total of $33,000 is budgeted for a stormwater pipeline through private properties. This cost would be met by landowners and adjoining owners who benefit from the pipeline’s installation. Inconvenience Inconvenience caused by works at both Fitzgerald Avenue and Strowan Road was discussed by the development and construction committee. The public blamed the board for the slowness in completing road restoration after the works were finished, the committee report said. The board resolved that a meeting be arranged with officers of the Christchurch City Council to discuss problems of road works restoration and work co-ordination. Better co-ordination was needed between the authorities to improve the situation.