DRAINAGE SCHEME PROPOSED

Southland Times, Issue 23502, 7 May 1938, Page 4

DRAINAGE SCHEME PROPOSED

HAWTHORNDALE TOWNSHIP A report on the proposal for drainage of Hawthomdale township was submitted to the Southland County Council by the engineer, Mr G. R. Milward, yesterday. There were 31 residences in the area, besides some stables which discharged rain water from the roofs, said the engineer. The natural drainage of the area was in a south-westerly direction through the adjoining property and then through the township of Inglewood, but as the following of the natural course would entail such a long outfall construction and maintenance, he recommended that the water be diverted and carried to Puni creek, almost opposite the township itself. The fall was available although it would entail a depth of 7ft to 9ft of excavation towards the south end of Stuart street “For the purpose of this scheme lam assuming that an open ditch outfall can be made from Puni creek through the swamp to the railway and then along the south side of the railway reserve,” he said. Drainage by a system of open ditches in the locality would be most undesirable, both from a maintenance point of view and because of the fairly close settlement, and as the financing of the scheme would probably be by loan money the estimates were based cn a standard usually used in suburban standard of cities..

“This scheme would be purely a storm-water discharge, and it would not be permissible for house water from sinks to be emptied into the drain,” said the engineer. “The outfall for the system would be Puni creek, and as this creek flaws through the city of Invercargill, objection would be taken by tlie city, and by the Health Department to any foul discharge into Puni creek. There would be no objection, however, to the installation of septic tanks in the residences, and the outfall of the tanks could be connected to the storm-water system.” The engineer estimated the cost at £1591. “It appears that a special rating area would be necessary/’ he said, “and if possible on a capital value* basis, as the owner of say half a dozen quarteracre sections with no buildings would not be prepared to pay the same rate a section for the proposed amenity as would the owner of a section with. a house on it.”

If the council decided to go on with the scheme, said the engineer, he would suggest that a meeting of ratepayers in the area be convened and the position put before them concerning the formation of a special rating area. Consideration of the report was deferred until the next meeting of the council.