WAITAKERE DRIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23042, 20 May 1938, Page 14

WAITAKERE DRIVE

COST OF MAINTENANCE CITY COUNCIL'S ATTITUDE The view that the Waitiikere' Scenic Drive, being largely for the'benefit of motorists, should be maintained out. of the funds of the Main Highways Board was put forward by the Public Services Committee of the Auckland City Council'; last night, and this view' was ehdorsed by; tlio council. : . , : In a communication to the, council the district engineer of the , Public: Works Department said that the Main Highways; Board was willing to take the road over and control it when completed and sealed, and would subsidise maintenance at the rate of £3 for £l. In view of the;council's water reserves

being in the region the council was asked to .find one quarter of the: cost of a length of five miles,' 30 chains. Tt was estimated that maintenance would" cost about £l6O a mile a year. .

The; city /engineer, Mr/ J. Tyler,; said this proposal' Would cost the council about £2lO a year. However, the construction ,Qf this : road was of no benefit to the council so far as the: waterworks were concerned. The close proximity of the road to the watersheds would cause additional turbidity ;in the water, adding to the cost of filtering, while the waterworks departmont would bo involved in extra expense for increased. patrols in the summer months against firo and tresipass. " j . ■; ;

The road did not add any facilities tor maintaining tho, pipelines or any ])oi t-ion of the works, and the engineer felt that as tlio road was constructed as a scenic drive largely for the benefit iiiofcorists, the \yhole maintenance should be. a charge against the funds of the Main Highways Board. On the recommendation of tho Public Services Committee it was decided to reply in the, terms of the city engineer's report.' :