OIL INSTALLATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 23100, 28 October 1938, Page 13

OIL INSTALLATIONS

TRANSFER TO BLACK JACK’S POINT HEW BERTH ADVOCATED HARBOUR BOARD’S DISCUSSION The erection of a new oil wharf and a transfer of the present oil storage accommodation to the vicinity of Black Jack’s Point were subjects of a lengthy and lively discussion at last night’s meeting of the Harbour Board, during which the Mayor of West Harbour (Mr A. Smith) made a spirited attack on the chairman (Mr W. Begg). The discussion revolved about a report dealing with the suggested transfer, with which was bound up the applications by oil companies for extensions of their present leases. COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The report of the sub-committee was as follows: The committee has considered the correspondence -with the City Council in regard to suitable sites for extensions of bulk oil installations, wherein the town clerk advises that the_ council’s Public Works Committee considers that the most suitable area for such extensions is the land in the vicinity of Black Jack’s Point. The council will not under any circumstances consent to the erection of such tanks on the area bounded by the railway line, Anzac Avenue, and the Leith canal, but advises that sections 73-82 and 83-92, block 75, are considered to be suitable for oil storage purposes. An application has been received from one of the oil companies for the two sections adjoining their present installation, and it is recommended that subject to the approval of the City Council in • regard to one of the sections, these sections bo put up to auction for a period which; will terminate on the same date as the company’s existing lease, thereafter for 14-year periods.

The application of another company for an area across the railway line cannot be granted on account of the attitude of the City Council, as set out above, which attitude is endorsed by the committee. It is recommended, however, that the attention of this company be drawn to sections 83-92 and 160, _ block 75. which would give approximately the required _ space and which is the only area available in the vicinity. The availability of this area, however, is contingent on section 160 being approved by the City Council for the purpose desired. Should such approval be obtained and these sections be acceptable to the applicants, it is recommended that steps be taken to put up for auction a 14-year lease of the area in question. . . , With the exception of the remaining sections in block 75 approved by, the City Council—viz., Nos. 74-82—it is recommended that no further installations of this nature be permitted in block 75. The question of the erection of the proposed new oil wharf and the site for same is a matter which the committee suggests might well be considered by the Finance Committee in conjunction with the estimates. The committee has considered the position, as set out in correspondence from the town clerk, in regard to the inclusion within the city boundaries of the board’s reclamation area in the vicinity of Black Jack’s Point, and also the further area of watershed at present within the Borough of West Harbour which the City Council desires to include, and it is noted that under the circumstances the City Council does not propose to take further action in the matter. As it is most desirable that the position in regard to the board’s lands between the city boundary and Black Jack’s Point be clarified as early as possible, it is recommended that the City Council be urged to take the necessary steps under section 139 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1933, for the inclusion of this area within the city. PRESENT BERTH UNSATISFACTORY. The discussion was introduced by the Chairman, who _ said that this report led to the erection of a new oil wharf. The present berth was anything but satisfactory, and sooner or later —and the sooner the better—the whole position would have to be reviewed and expert advice The sub-com-mittee was of the opinion that there should be no further extensions of tanks beyond defined areas, and re-' commended Black Jack’s Point as an ideal site for oil storage, and that any further extensions should be towards there. The safety of the community was a concern of the committee. Mr Begg declared that he thought it should be made quite clear that there should be no further extensions on the present site. Mr R. S. Thompson asked w’hether, since the construction of a_ new oil wharf would have to be considered, it would be advisable to grant any extensions on the present site. Apparently the reason for the committee’s recommendation was that the need for additional accommodation was urgent. “ As we seem to be in agreement that a new oil berth should be provided, would it not be better not to extend the present area? ” The Chairman said that the building of a new wharf would take considerable time, and the oil companies’ need for additional storage accommodation was pressing. But for this he would not be in favour of any extensions whatever on the present area. TARGET FOR BOMBERS. Mr R. Duncan considered that the present oil storage area was in a highly dangerous spot, one that should be reserved for ordinary commercial interests. In the event of war and a visit by bombers, it would be an ideal target. He thought that it would not be wise to grant any further extensions there. A new site was under consideration, and a patchwork job should not be made. Mr F. E. Tyson: You can’t get away from the fact that the oil companies lease this land and you can’t stop them from extending. Mr J B. Waters said the committee felt that the companies should be advised of the probability of their being asked to move their storage to Black Jack’s Point. It was quite possible that when they knew of the board’s proposal to erect a new oil berth they might not be prepared to extend on the present site. The matter, however, was indefinite at present, and all the boord could do was to advise them that their leases might be terminated at a later date. Mr Tyson said that if the board acted on these suggestions it might

face in later years the same difficulties that exjsted now. As to this intense danger in the case of war, he disagreed with the chairman, and would like to get expert advice. Mr T. Scollny remarked that it might not be so very long before the suggestion was to shift them down the harbour, which was not as impracticable as it sounded. _ He cited an area between Pulling Point and Grassy Point as well suited for such a purpose, and the completion of the new highway would make the area readily accessible. In other cities oil tanks were well removed from housing areas. Mr J. H. Duncan: They are right beside the houses in Lyttelton. The Chairman said that he personally agreed that no further extensions should be_ granted. But until Blacik Jack’s Point was part of the city area nothing could be done. Even when this was an accomplished fact there was still the big question of drainage to be considered. In the meantime, the oil companies urgently required an extension of storage space. He suggested that if the West Harbour Council had taken over this area when it was offered to it 11 years ago, by this time it would have been drawing appreciable revenue from it. “ How can we have anv guarantee that if we do shift to Black Jack’s Point we won’t have to shift again in another 15 years’ time?” asked Mr J. Preston. “ I firmly believe that we should have a comprehensive survey made and expert advice secured as to the best site on the harbour. If an extra tank or two were put on the present site it is not going to make much difference if an explosion does occur,” Mr Waters pointed out that the board was in no way tied down to Black Jack’s Point as the oil storage site of the future. It might be possible to find a better site. The Chairman: You will have to make a decision soon. The present berth is only an extension of the Victoria wharf, and is beside the area where ships are loading and discharging. Mr D. F. H. Sharpe; There is a lot in what Mr Preston says. Since you say a new oil berth must be considered, the next thing is to decide the best site for its locality, and that is a matter for experts. Mr R. Duncan suggested that the matter should be referred back to the committee with a recommendation that expert advice be obtained. He would support the acquisition of the land, but not the extension of the leases. Mr Scollay did not agree with the suggestion. The committee’s recommendation, he said, met the situation. The Chairman said that the need for a new oil berth was urgent. The present situation was “ an ulcer staring them in the face.” SHARP COMMENT. The meeting was then enlivened with some strong comment from Mr A. Smith. “ Black Jack’s Point is only a bog now,” he declared to the chairman. “ I don’t know whether you are the catspaw of the City Council or the City Council is the catspaw of you. Sou are trying to make fools of the West Harbour Council. You won’t put your cards on the table. This is all nonsense that you have been saying. The West Harbour Council was offered this area 11 years ago, but it was no use to it, as- it could not drain the area. I don’t see that it has anything to do with the West Harbour Council. There is enough messing in drainage work in the city without trying to bring West Harbour into it. Mr A. Campbell: What would be the position of West Harbour if the board were to tell it that it had to install a sewerage system—as it is entitled to do? It doesn’t do to talk too hard or too fast, and it is idle for the West Harbour Mayor to tell the board what it should do.

The Chairman: Mr Smith has emphasised that we should put our cards on the table. They have been on the table all along. The board wants Black Jack's Point, but it can’t go any further until the ground is taken over by a local authority. Its dealings with the West Harbour Council have always beep most friendly. The only way we could approach this matter was through the City Council—and it has nothing up its sleeves. Mr Thompson said it appeared that there was agreement that the City Council should take over the area. However, the board should know where the permanent site of the oil storage was to be. This would clarity the situation, and they could then make their plans accordingly. Mr J. W. Munro, M.P., said that the point at issue was whether they should grant any further extensions at present. He thought there must have been some misapprehension in the negotiations between the City Council and the West Harbour Council for the taking over of a certain area by the city. “ I don’t know what Mr Smith means by ‘ putting all the cards on the table.’ ” said Mr Munro. “ It is not too late yet for the matter to be_ reopened by the three bodies. I think the West Harbour Council has been jumping to conclusions from hearing rumours." The first section of the report was then adopted, and when the latter portion was put to the meeting Mr Munro remarked that he did not like any suggestion that the “ big stick ” was being wielded to West Harbour. "Mr Thompson: The Black Jack’s Point area has nothing to do with the West Harbour Council. We are not asking the City Council to take over any West Harbour ground. ,Tho whole report was then adopted.