BROWN'S ISLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22200, 29 August 1935, Page 10

BROWN'S ISLAND

SEWAGE OUTFALL SITE OPTION TO BUY AT £6500 DRAINAGE BOARD'S ACTION BIG REDUCTION IN TRICE PART IN MAJOR SCHEME An option to Motukorea (Brown's Island) at £6500 from the Devon port Steam Ferry Company, Limited, as an outfall for the southern end of the proposed metropolitan drainago district was acquired by the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board at a meeting last night. The option is for two years, the consideration being tho payment of 3 per cent per annum upon the stated price. The island, which comprises 148 acres, is at the mouth of the Tamaki River. f The proposed comprehensive scheme will be considered by the board at its next quarterly meeting, in November. It was stated that time was necessary to allow the local bodies concerned to determine their attitude with regard to the question of proceeding with • the scheme. Need For Early Action " You will have noticed that much publicity has recently been given to the drainage problem of Auckland, which in my opinion is to be welcomed," said the chairman, Mr. Ernest Davis, Mayor of Auckland. "It is abundantly clear that there is need for early action. "As is the case with most projects of this nature, some criticisms of the comprehensive scheme have been made, which I am advised are obviously founded upon insufficient knowledge of all the factors of the problem. This is to be regretted, as such criticisms are disturbing to the public mind. "An important aspect of the scheme is the location of the outfall for the southern end of the proposed metropolitan drainage district. It is recommended that treatment works be established at Brown's Island, with an outfall into Motukorea Channel, to provide for the drainage of this area. "A Bedrock Figure" "I am at liberty to disclose terms of an option of purchase of Brown's Island, which I have obtained from the Devonport Steam Ferry Company, Limited. The island has previously been offered to the board for sewage treatment purposes, the price being fixed at £27,500, but this was subsequently reduced to £14,500. The option which I am placing before the board is at a price of £6500, which 1 consider to be a bedrock figure." The Mayor added that the engineersecretary, Mr. H. H. "Watkins, had advised in his report that the situation and natural features of the island afforded an excellent and unique opportunity of effecting a satisfactory and permanent solution of the sewage disposal problem for the area in question. It would also be practicable to use the island for the disposal of sewage from •an extensive portion of the peninsula lying easterly of the Tamaki River. Mr. Watkins had also stated that portions of the island could be conveniently used for recreational purposes for many years to come. Unemployment Board Aid Likely

"Moreover, we must not lose sight of the possibility of obtaining a substantial grant from the Unemployment Board, by way of subsidy toward the wages cost of the scheme," added Mr. Davis "An important announcement was recently made by the Minister of Employment to the effect that the Unemployment Board intends to co-operate with local authorities in financing works of this nature. "All these matters have been receiving my close attention, and I have not spared myself in the endeavour which I am making to promote the co-oper-ation of the group of administrative authorities in the metropolitan area, in formulating a drainage policy which would adequately provide for the immediate and anticipated future requirements of the whole district."

"We should lose no time in securing the option," said Mr. T. McNab, Mayor of Mount Eden. "The price of £6500 is very low, especially when we consider that when the offer at £14,500 was not accepted by the board it was considered the island could be obtained for about £9OOO under the Public Works Act." Other Members' Views Several members of the board, including Messrs. E. J. Phelan, J. S. Stewart, B. Martin, A. Rosser and F. E. Lark, also advocated the securing of the option without delay. Mr. 1. J. Goldstine, Mayor of One Tree Hill, suggested that the question of obtaining the option should be referred to a committee for consideration.

"Essential information as to costs of the proposed comprehensive scheme have not been made available to local bodies, and this information is necessary before we can proceed with the scheme," said Mr. Goldstine. The opinion that referring tho matter to a committee would be a reasonable course was expressed by Mr. C. M. McCullough, chairman of the Mount Roskill Road Board.

A sub-committee was appointed to go into the matter of obtaining an assistant for the engineer-secretary in working on the scheme, and Mr. Davis stated he would communicate immediately with the Unemployment Board regarding the drainage proposals.