Water programme to cost Waimairi $3.7M

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 8

Water programme to cost Waimairi $3.7M

A. $3.7 million programme of improvements to water supplies would be needed in the next five years, the Waimairi District Council’s works, reserves, and traffic committee was told yesterday. The waterworks engineer, Mr Errol Young, said the improvements . were for five specific proposals, in addition to improvements to the existing domestic water supply. He suggested that loans would have to be raised to cover the work. The issue was referred to the council’s finance and policy committee. The five projects were Burwood Hospital, where

help had been sought for fire-fighting; the High Technology Park zone on Sheffield Crescent, which needed water for firefighting and for a possible hotel of 600 to 700 beds and a proposed 40-unit motel; the Johns Road rural industrial area, where water was needed for developing a camping ground; the Brooklands and Spencerville areas, where the provision of sewerage would lead to pressure for a public water supply; and the Kainga area, where there was likely to be a demand for a public water supply. Mr Young said the Burwood Hospital supply

should have priority as it involved a high public risk. He estimated the work would cost $160,000. Both the technology park at Bumside and the Johns Road area were developments that depended upon the provision of an adequate water supply. Both were "politically desirable.” ■ The Johns , Road work would cost $235,000. The work at Burnside could cost $1.21 million and could be spread, over three years. Developers in the area would be expected to contribute toward the cost He said the Spencerville and Brooklands residents

had their own water supplies. These would become safer after the sewerage system had been installed but a demand for a public water supply was expected. The work could cost $1.68 million but developers could be expected to help meet the cost He suggested the work be spread over two years, starting in the 1990-91 financial year. Kainga had the lowest priority because it already had a water supply, although it was not reliable. Mr Young suggested the work be done in the 199192 financial year. It might cost $432,000.