WATER AND DRAINAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 7, 8 July 1938, Page 11

WATER AND DRAINAGE

PLIMMERTON SCHEME

ESTIMATED COST

POLL OF RATEPAYERS

An outline of a proposed water and drainage scheme for Plimmerton was given by Councillor R. L. Button, representative of the Taupo Riding on the Hutt County Council, at a meeting of Plimmerton ratepayers in Wellington last night. Councillor Button was in the chair and associated with him were Mr. H. Vickerman, County Engineer to the Hutt County,.and Mr. H. J. Robinson, County Clerk. There was a good attendance.

The chairman said that many and repeated requests from ratepayers had been made for such a scheme, and at a meeting two years ago it had been recommended that such a scheme should be brought before ratepayers in a year's time.

"There is no doubt," he said, "that the matter must be dealt with. There is a grave need for an efficient water supply in Plimmerton and the present out-of-date sanitary scheme is a direct menace to the community. With the present progress and prospective advance of the district, with the improved rail and road access, and with the electric train .and straightening of the Ngahauranga Gorge, there is no doubt that Plimmerton will very soon become an important and popular suburb of Wellington."

The scheme for water, Councillor Button continued, was to put a dam across the Quartz Creek, two and a half miles in the hills from its outlet in Pahautanui .Inlet. Water would be supplied through a six-inch main to a 90,000 gallon reservoir on the high hill at the top of Motuhara Road, 280 feet above sea level; from there to reticulate in 4-inch pipes through the area. The scheme at present was designed for.a population of 3000 people, although an extension could be made later if necessary, from a tributary stream. The water supply was qf the gravitation type.

The scheme for drainage, (or sewerage) entailed a pumping system with drainage pipes right through the area, with an outlet to the sea at North Haed beyond Maori Bay. This scheme was also designed for a population of. 3000 people and the County Engineer had advised the council that both schemes would be highly satisfactory and suitable for Plimmerton. COST OF SCHEME. Councillor Button outlined in detail the cost of the proposed scheme. The. estimated" cost of the water was £21,000 and the drainage £23,500; a total 0f£44,500. He expressed great appreciation to the employment division of the Department of Labour, which had done everything possible to [ assist the Hutt County Council to getthe work accomplished. The! Department had promised a subsidy of £12,400 towards the scheme. Councillor Button advised ratepayers that individual costs would be 25s per £100 of the capital value of their properties for both schemes. As an example he said that a £500 house would pay £6 5s per annum minus 255, the annual cost to the ratepayers for the present sanitary service.

In reviewing ratepayer's properties as,a whole, Councillor., Buttpjrt told, the meeting that ratepayers ins the Plimmerton district would be affected as follows:—Sixty-three' ratepayers would pay £1 per annum and under;, 60, £2 and.under; 38, £3 and under; 31* £4 and under; 34, £5 and under; 37, £6. and under; 21, £7 and under; 123, over £7. From these amounts, of course, the present sanitary.! fee would be deducted.

tt With regard to the cost of .connections with the reticulation drains and water mains, Councillor Button said that the County Council was arranging for a loan so that ratepayers could install the services and repay at .approximately £1 per month.

A large number of questions were asked and were replied to by the engineer and county clerk. ; Messrs. H. S. Barron, .F. W. Morshead, and R. E. Kent spoke in favour of the scheme, and the council? lor for the riding strongly recommended ratepayers to take advantage of the opportunity shortly, to. be presented to them to vote for it. Mr. F. J. Brooker, on behalf of the ratepayers,' moved a vote of .appreciation and confidence, in Councillor Button, and this waa carried unanimously. A poll of ratepayers will be taken as soon as the necessary preliminary matters with the Government and Lopns Board are concluded (probably within two months).

» The system will include the whole of Karehana Bay and Plimmerton to the Paremata Bridge

Next Wednesday Councillor Button will address ratepayers at Plimmerton.