Heathcote Council Wants City Water Controlled

Press, Issue 31095, 25 June 1966, Page 20

Heathcote Council Wants City Water Controlled

The Heathcote County Council wants Parliament to safeguard “the unique water supply in Christchurch.”

It will ask the Government to include in intended legislation on water control a special provision which will prevent wastage of water in Christchurch. Cr. L. L. Smith told the council that the Minister of Works (Mr Allen) had proposed to introduce a bill bringing all water supplies in New Zealand under one act. Mr Allen had said that, at present, water resources were

controlled by 87 authorities throughout the country. Cr. Smith said that the present legislation controlling water usage was based on an old English law which made it impossible to impose restrictions unless there was an emergency or one was about to arise.

“Surely there should be some form of control before we get to the emergency stage,” said Cr. Smith.

“I am amazed there is no control and I am sure there are many cities that would be thrilled to have such an asset as the water supply of Christchurch.” Cr. Smith claimed that between the Christchurch city and the Heathcote county there was a well discharging between 300 and 400 gallons of water a minute.

“It is just being wasted,” he said. “In the north-west of the city a dairy is pumping waste milk into a disused well and a by-products company at Hornby is polluting the water supply,” he said. The council agreed to ask the Minister to give special consideration to Canterbury when the present act was amended.