IMHOFF TANKS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 80, Issue 7182, 29 March 1950, Page 7

IMHOFF TANKS

UTILISATION OF SITE CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTION BY TOWN CLERK T

The town clerk (Mr J. W. Palmer), submitted the following letter to the Mayor and councillors at Monday night’s meeting of the BoijoUgh Council:—

Imhoff Tanks As the new "sewerage works are, nearing completion, consideration should be given at an early date to the employment of an attendant for the Imhoff Tanks. The borough overseer estimates that the daily routine work at the tahks will take from two to three hours. I understand that the Council’s intention is to erect a cottage for the purpose of housing the attendant on the land acquired from Mr Quin. There will be a considerable area of unused land-—the overseer ’estimates it at approximately nine acres—which should be used in some way in order to prevent it becoming weed infested. The council should, for the conservation of the town water supply carry out a progressive tree planting programme at Mt. Pirongia and the Afforestation Committee has already decided on a scheme of planting a certain number of trees’ each year. In view of the number of trees that will be required annually for these, planting schemes I would recommend that the council seriously consider establishing a nursery on the Septic Tank site.. I understand that the council has had some experience, in growing trees and that the project was quite successful.

The proposal has several advantages, namely it would provide employment for the Septic Tank attendant, the spare land would be utilised with profit to the. council, and, judging by what I have been told of the previous venture, the scheme should pay for the planting of the tre.es and provide a surplus for other purposes. The borough overs/;er is of the opinion that if the council intends to adopt the recommendation, the ground should be prepared within the next few months and that this year seedlings be planted and that in subsequent years the trees be grown from seed. Of course the proposal will have to be considered in more detail before the council finally decides whether or not to embark on it and I would suggest that the recommendation be referred to one of the committees of the council for a report. After reference to the previous nursery owned and operated by the council and to the financial success that had attended that venture, the letter was referred to a special committee, consisting of Crs Hopping and Williams for consideration and report.