NEW PLYMOUTH SEWAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1929, Page 14

NEW PLYMOUTH SEWAGE

HARBOUR BOARD APPROVES ./ - f JESTS CRITICISED BY RATEPAYER OFFER CONCERNING EXTRA SERIES • Declaring that it had not been proved that the outflow at Eliot Street from the proposed sewerage system would not pollute the beaches, Mr. F. C. Tribe wrote to the New Plymouth Harbour Board yesterday Suggesting'a further series of float tests under varying conditions and supervised by a representative committee. “If I am wrong in my contentions I will bear the cost of the experiment,” he said.

The board, however, approved the original scheme, which is to cost £158.000, after hearing it explained by the borough engineer (Mr. C. Clarke). “To me, as a layman, his explanation seems to be . satisfactory,” said Mr. D. J. ])lalone. appears to have been carefully investigated and commends itself to me as a proposal showing vision.” Mr. Tribe wrote that having noticed the scheme was to be considered by members of the Harbour Board, he had taken the liberty of addressing them on the subject. The borough engineer’s scheme was to bring the sewerage from the outlying portions of the town and have it deposited at a place not very far away from the centre of the population. That would be well enough if there were an ocean current to carry it away from the town and beaches, but there was not. The engineer had certainly carried on 4 ' ■ float tests, but of these Mr. Tribe had witnessed one only, and on that occasion the float had come ashore a few chains to the east of the proposed outlet. From what he could gather from other residents, some of the other tests were very similar to the one he mentioned

In one, of his reports to the council the engineer had said the beaches should not be polluted, so they would see that he was not very certain in his own mind as to what would take place. Some months ago hundreds of empty''petrol tins had been thrown over the cliffs at the western end of Buller Street, and for months afterwards those tins were scattered along the beach as far as the Fitzroy bathing shed. When cleaning its rolling stock the Railway Department had thrown a great deal of straw, etc., into - the Huatoki stream, and this could afterwards be seen along the foreshore as far as the Henui stream. These two cases would show that, if the proposed scheme were carried out, a danger would be created. e “AN ABSURD STATEMENT.” The council had asserted that there had not been any complaints regarding the discharge from the present sewer, and that there was no deposit along the beaches. This was an absurd state- <•< ment to make, said Mr. Tribe, for he knew of hundreds who had given up using the beaches from the Railway station to Hobsoir Street on account of the filth.' He had not noticed this himself during the winter months, but it was conspicuous in summer. The present outlet had the help of the stream, yet drainage was returned to the shore. Knowing that the council could not help itself in the matter, it would have been absurd to have made a complaint. He had known the beach for many years, and he was certain that there was not an outflowing current off Eliot Street. The engineer’s proposal was to retain the sewerage in some sort of underground tank, where it would become broken up before it was discharged into the ocean. That might read very well, but the public would know it was in the water, and one could not imagine bathers or picnic parties on that length of beach. The whole thing was so absurd that he could not understand how the council could consider it for one moment.

All the people living along the- sea front with whom he had come in contact were against the scheme, but as far as he knew none had put his objection before the authorities. He hoped the council would give the matter their fullest consideration, for, in the event of the scheme becoming a failure, the loss of public money would be tremendous. The letter was read to the board during the presence of a deputation from the Borough Council. It was decided to send the council a copj. Mr. W. C. Clement: Has the engineer considered putting the sewerage out at the Omata beach, south of Paritutu? He pointed out that New Plymouth had a great attraction in its beaches, and there would be no chance of their pollution if the outfall were at Omata. Mr. Clarke'said there were a good many difficulties to be overcome in taking the outfall either to the western or eastern end of the town. Such a scheme would mean the use of pumping statione. It would cost £lOO,OOO extra for a western outlet and £70,000 extra for an eastern outlet, plus a big annual charge for the operation and maintenance of pumping stations. NO DANGER OF POLLUTION. “There is no possible doubt about the bathing beaches not being polluted, even if the population were 00,000,” he continued. He would not say it would be nice to bathe just at the outlet, but he, himself, would not mind bathing at any time four or five chains away. Mr. Malone: You are quite satisfied that the method suggested will effectively dealt with the sewerage by liquifyin<r it, and that there will be no danger of"crude material being discharged? Mr. Clarke: There will be no possibility of that occurring. The discharge will be in the form of a fluid. No £aper will be discharged, as it will not e able to get out of the tunnel. The sewerage will not have time to become septic. We hav' had the scheme investigated by another engineer (Mr. Ralph Worley), and his report was very favourable. He even gays there would be no menace to the beaches from the discharge of crude sewerage, but we have decided to put out liquid only. The chairman (Mr. C. E. Bellringer): In your report on the scheme you said there would be “little danger.” Mr. Clarke: I was referring to crude sewerage. There will be no danger with liquified sewerage. Answering Mr. J. R. Cruickshank, the engineer said if necessary the council CQUId duplicate the tanks or make them slightly larger in order to convert the system into a complete septic system. Thi 1 * .would cost probably about £20,00b. Mr. Cruickshank: That would remove •;any possible objection or danger?

Mr. Clarke: Yes, but I cannot see any danger now. “It seems the Borough Council has done everything possible, and I cannot see that a better point could have been decided on,” said Mr. Maxwell. He considered the council would not be justified in spending another £lOO,OOO to take the outfall further out. And then, there was no guarantee that the point decided on would not become as important as the site already decided on for the proposed outfall. He believed that an the population grew the Omata beach was likely to become increasingly important. Mr. Bellringer said the council could rely on the board’s support. He was sure the council was just as anxious a-s the board not to have the beaches polluted. After the deputation had withdrawn, Mr. Malone said the board had certain responsibilities regarding the beaches, but Mr. Clarke had made it clear that all precautions had been taken and that, if necessary, they could take a further precaution for the expenditure of £20,000. He then moved, and Mr. H. C. Taylor seconded, the resolution approving the scheme,