For Cobden

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1947, Page 3

For Cobden

SEWERAGE SCHEME ESTIMATED COST £33,000 A comprehensive sewerage scheme for Cobden is to be placed* before the Government at an early date, following a resolution adopted at last night’s meeting of the Greymouth Borough Council. The plan was submitted to the Council by the borough engineer (Mr A. J. Fairmaid), who outlined the proposals.

“The engineer is to be congratulated on his report”, said Cr. F. F. Beust ridge, in moving that the matter be placed before the appropriate heads of Government departments, with a view to obtaining a subsidy for the scheme. The motion was seconded by Cr. J. B. Kent, and carried unanimously. The report is as follows: — In 1936 a scheme to cost £42,129 provided for a main outfall sewer across Cobden Island to discharge into the Grey River, but recent proposals for the development of the, harbour render such a proposal inadvisable. The scheme now presented provides for discharge close to the north tip; a main intercepting sewer extending throughout the length of Nelson Quay, thence-across Cobden lagoon, under the north tip line, and thence through the made country behind the wave trap to a point close (hereto. This main sewer picks up branch sewers from each intersecting street, except Clifford Street, and lateral's from these complete the reticulation, thus generally following the lay-out of the existing storm water system which, when Cobden was incorporated in the borough, mainly comprised open drains to which the domestic sullage water of the built-up areas gravitated.

Since the incorporation, a policy of piping these open drains has been systematically followed with a view to their ultimate inclusion in a sewerage reticulation system. A commencement was made in Taylor St., channels in the area to the southeast being unsuitable for eventual inclusion. Cardwell Street, next deceived attention, the piping of the last feeder drains in Ward Street now being under way. In September 1943 a loan of £4OOO was raised for the sewerage of the Newcastle St. area and thus Taylor Creek was cleared of domestic sullage water above whore it crosses Newcastle St., except for that which comes from Ashmore Avenue for the construcstruction of a sewer in which street sufficient of the loan remains, the work awaiting suitable opportunity. The completion of the work in Ward Street, in Ashmore Avenue, and the piping of a short open drain in Fox Street on the south-eastern side of Blackett Street will enclose all open drains in the area between Taylor and Blackett Streets except for a length in Ward Street south-east-wards from Newcastle Street for which length provision is made in the scheme under review wherein provision is also made for the final clearing up of the lower reaches of Taylor Creek. From Blackett Street to Clifford Street sullage water discharges to Range Creek wherein a most unsatisfactory condition arises, particularly in dry weather. The New Zealand Railways Settlement block and Holland Settlement are served by two septic tanks, the effluent from which passes into a piped drain in Hall Street which discharges into the lower reaches of Range Creek, from which circumstances arises a further unsatisfactory condition in dry weather. In the scattered area between Hall Street and Dommett Esplanade there exists no provision for the disposal of household wastes other than that’ made by each The scheme herein outlined is designed to carry the same flow as that provided for in the recently sewered areas in the southern areas of the Borough, namely, domestic sewerage flow combined with roof water, the total being estimated on the basis of a maximum flow of .16 cubic feet per second per acre. It provides for close settlement in the whole of the area covered which at the rate of 25 persons per acre would contain a population of 4,330 as compared with the population of 1811 recorded by the 1945 census. Overflows are provided for the discharge to the river of excess storm water arising from the storm water drains incorporated in the scheme.

Completion of the main intercepting sewer would enable complete sewage disposal from the areas served by the Taylor, Cardwell and Newcastle Street branch sewers and thus bring an early reduction in the demand upon the nightsoil service. No provision is made for connection to boundaries of properties as a large portion of this work has already received attention and the remainder could be carried out as required from revenue sources.

ESTIMATED COSTS

Tiie estimate presented shows a total of £35,067, in four main items. —

1. £23,407 for the main intercepting sewer and reticulation up to Hall Street.

2 £2,298 to connect the Hall Street drain to .'he main intercepting sewer. 3 £4,466 to extend the Richmond Street branch sewer to the area nowbeing developed in Momo Street. 4 £4,986 to pick up the scattered area north-west of Hall Street.