SEWERAGE BREAKDOWN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 101, 30 April 1937, Page 10

SEWERAGE BREAKDOWN

RUSH REPAIRS

PRELIMINARIES TO LOAN WORK

When the £200,000 sewerage loan proposal was put before ratepayers in February the extreme urgency of the work was stressed: it was stated that the present system had reached its limit of service, and that trouble was to be expected if the work was delayed. Another proof that that statement was no exaggeration to force the loan through—and in any case the work would have been ordered by the Health Department—was given yesterday afternoon when a small main burst in Brandon Street. The break itself was not very serious, but its effect upon the system as a whole was, for immediately the. pumping plant had to be closed down, and the , sewage from the city area was turned into the stormwater outlets to the harbour, an. expedient that has had to be followed more than once previously. The repair gang worked straight through until 1 a.m.. when the system was made: normal again. Even though every endeavour is being made to expedite the work authorised by the passing of the loan, it will probably be some .months before a real start can be made. The first section of the new work will be the driving of a tunnel, 6ft by 3ft, from Drummond Street to Dixon Street, and then from Dixon Street to Tinakori Road, (Later the work may be extended along the Hutt Road to a point in Ngahauranga Gorge, but this is 1 not part of the £200,000 scheme.) In their report to the City Council the engineers stated that the extension of the main sewer would take from three to four years to complete from the date at which construction was actually started, and that until that-work was done no improvement could be obtained. . ' SHAFTS FOR TUNNEL WORKING. Because the tunnel to be driven under practically the full,'length of the city is to follow a direct line it will. pass under private lands for its greater distance, and it is necessary to secure from owners permission and rights to sink shafts so that the tunnel may be divided into working sections. In certain cases property owners have readily agreed, but where objection is raised delays may be. caused by the negotiations to secure the right by agreement or by order under the Public Works Act. Where agreement has already been, obtained shaft-driv-ing is already in' hand.

The tunnel and concrete lining will be only one part of the work, representing about half the cost, the estimates being: Drummond Street to Dixon Street, £47,000; Dixon Street to Tinakori Road, £58,000. The remainder of the loan money will be required for alterations to reticulation, various extensions, new pumping plant, compensation, engineering,. contingencies, etc. '::•.' . , •