DRAINAGE PROBLEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25800, 22 March 1945, Page 8

DRAINAGE PROBLEMS

AREAS NEAR BOROUGH Correspondence was received by the Waitaki County Council at its meeting yesterday morning in reference to drainage problems at Awamoa. and the matter was held over pending the preparation of plans and a survey to cover a comprehensive drainage scheme for areas just outside the borough boundaries. The inspector of health (Mr G. Kerr) reported that residents on Holmes Hill were finding difficulty in disposing of refuse water from their properties. Mr Corcoran objected to this sewage being discharged into his paddock. In several instances sewage was being discharged on to the road. The Highways Board was approached through the medical officer of health, with the object of making arrangements with the Oamaru Borough Council for an extension of the sewer from Wye street to tap these properties. The board had replied that it. was in no way concerned with the extension of the sewer to serve the residences creating the nuisances. Mr Kerr added that the assistance of the County Council in the extension of the borough sewer to serve these properties would be greatly appreciated. The Oamaru Borough Council forwarded a copy of a letter from the Awamoa Bowling Club, with reference to flooding of the bowling and croquet greens on reserve B, and requested that the county engineer submit a report on the question of having a larger outlet provided at the southern outlet at reserve C. The Oamaru Borough Council forwarded a copy of a peition received from residents of Holmes Hill, Awamoa, with reference to connecting drainage to the borough sewer at Wye street. The council asked that the county engineer confer with the borough foreman and report. Tile county engineer (Mr H. Murray Reid) said the problem was a much bigger one than what appeared on the surface, and concerned not only the residents on Holmes Hill, but also all the residents in the county just south of the boundary road. Any scheme should embrace that area. The people on Holmes Hill were fortunate because they were on the top of the hill, but the others were lower down. When he inspected the locality recently he could smell the drainage creek before he saw it. Nothing could be done until a survey was made, and he emphasised that with a survey provision should be made for extension, because the locality would be heavily built on in the future.

It would be impossible to connect the houses on Holmes Hill with the sewer at Wye street, said Mr Reid, without a tunnel, and it would mean a receiving tank. Otherwise a new system draining towards the sea would be required. The next thing would be a scheme for Eden street extension, which was in the same position, and also at the north end. Something would have to be done in the area surrounding the borough in the interests of public health. Mr James Rodman (chairman) said this was a ma}ter which would have to be considered by the Town-planning Council, as a plan for the whole area was involved. Whatever was decided upon would depend on the action taken by the Town-planning Council. Sooner or later some of the areas would have to be included in the borough. The county clerk (Mr R. K. Gardiner) stated that in 1924 there was a complaint about blocking ' a drain at Awamoa, showing the problem had existed for many years.

The county engineer stated they could not find the outlet pipe, which appeared to be smaller than the pipe discharging from the reserve. There was no plan of the drainage, and each householder appeared to have put in individual drainage, and the whole system was chaotic. He suggested that plans be obtained from the Lands Department, so that a coordinated plan of the whole area could be prepared.

The engineer’s suggestion was approved.