THE DEEP CREEK WATER PROJECT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21940, 29 April 1933, Page 15

THE DEEP CREEK WATER PROJECT

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —When the Deep Stream water project (which was turned down by the ratepayers) was under consideration you printed - a sketch map of the creek and its surroundings which was at the time of great help to many of us, and if you could see your way to print the map again; with the addition of . Deep , Creek, you would confer a public favour. '*• The last report by,the city engineer on the Deep Creek project (bar the particulars as'to the pipe laying) is so vague and unsatisfactory as not,to recommend an expenditure of £IBO,OOO. Besides, it lacks thri confirmation and support of disinterested engineers and others who know the climatic conditions of the Deep Stream country. We want to know whether the Deep Creek could give a sufficient supply of ■water at times, like the late dry period-—' we do not want to know the average yearly'supply that flows over the gauge, but the flow during the last three months. At present _we get enough water to fill the reservoirs during six months of the year at least, but cannot store it for dry seasons. We also want to know the rainfall at Deep Stream and Deep Creek and also, for purpose of a comparison, at Silverstream. Personally, I believe the rainfall in the two localities will be about the same and that if there is any difference Deep Stream will be the more dry. I know that in my younger years, when I rode, over the roads to Waipori diggings and to arid over the Rock and Pillar, the climatic conditions in summer seemed to be the same right through. Personally, I do not think that Deep Creek and Deep Stream can supply in dry seasons the water we require, and unless we get further satisfactory information and data I for one (if I get the chance to vote) will record my vote against the Deep Creek project. By the way, it is said that the council could carry the new project through without the ratepayers’ confirmation. Is that so? If it is so, it would be a shame after the citizens so definitely turning down the Deep Stream project. Let the City Council in the meantime consider getting fresh storage. The configuration of the vicinity of Dunedin suggests in its many gullies in _ the hills that sites for water storage exist. Then, when the opportune time arrives, let the council go in for a bold scheme of a never-failing supply of water from Hawea Lake or even from the Taieri River at the Styx. We do not want to waste hundreds of thousands of pounds on these streams or creeks. I would not have taken the liberty of asking you for space for my letter' but for the fact that the two members of the ’council who are standing for the mayoralty have given little information on the subject. The clergyman who is standing, being a very recent citizen, does not profess to know anything personally’ about the matter. The other two candidates’ opinions I do not know.—l am, etc., Old Timer. Dunedin, April 27. [We know of no reason that would deprive the ratepayers of the opportunity of voting on the loan proposal.— Ed., O.D.T.]