STORM WATER DRAINAGE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4942, 22 February 1926, Page 2

STORM WATER DRAINAGE

PROPOSITION INi PAEBOA.

REPORT BY THE M AYOR.

At the snecial meeting of the Paeroa, Borough Council on Thursday evening the following report on stormwater drainage prepared by the Mayor, was dealt with : — “This subject is one of the most important matters requiring attention in the borough, and itj has seriously exercised the mindK' of the members of this and previous, councils. During the last two ra,iny seasons I have personally given considerable time and thought to the question, and in conjunction with the foreman have made many inspections ,and observed: conditions.

“As the matter was closely associated with the river improvement works, the resident engineer of the Publid, Works Department was approached, and I have to express my appreciation for tne courtesy and help met with from the officers of this department. “The’ Public Works Department made a full investigation, and their considered opinion and detailed report is presented to-night. It reads as follows (in regard to the main outfall drain portion of their report, my own and the • foreman’s observations entirely confirm the conclusions arrived at) -

“The investigations made by the department show .that during the highest rainfall periods there is a run-off on the 1080 acres of watershed served by the main outfall drain of 230 cusecs- (i.e., 230 cubic feet of ( water per "second), with" a two-foot head of water. The discharging capacity of the flood-gates is 240 cubic feet of water per second, or 10 cubic feet of water per second greater than the highest known run-off; but the discharging capacity of the drain at its worst section is 28 cubic, feet per second, which equals only 12.17 per cent, of the run-off, so that behind- this, worst section 77.83 per cent, of the run-off is being backed up and ponded on the Puke Road, Rye> Lane, and Station Road areas.

■ ! "To repeat thiß* astounding fact for the purpose of emphasis : less than one-quarter of the run-off can be discharged through the drain and over three-quarters is ponded in the borough. This is a very serious defect, but fortunately it can be remedied, and we are confident .that if the drajn is widened-to s,even feet at the bottom, with a half to one batter on each side, the overburden now on the banks thrown back, and all possible fall picked up, there must be a distinct improvement in discharge of flood waters. ■ -

‘T therefore definitely recommend that the council agree to pay the sum of £455 to the Public Department for this portion of the wtork, a : nd that the department be urged to put the work -in hand immediately, if possible, and requested to allow us to pay 50 per cent, of the amount in April l of this, year and 50 per cent, in April, 1927. This would spread the cost over the next two financial years, and provision would have to be made for this amount in ,the estimates;

“The proposals so far provide for improved facilities, from the outfall to Puke Roffd, but beyond that a considerable amount of work is necessary. When the work”to Puke Road is completed we would recommend that the main outfall drajn from Puke Road to the Tay’or’s Avenue culvert be widened to sft 6in on (he bottom, with a % to . 1 batter, and from the. culvert to Rye Lane widened to 'sft on the bottom ,wth a % to 1 batter, and both sections regraded. The estimate for this portion is £62.

“From Rye Lane to the cross drain leading to King Street would; require straightening and cleaning, at an estimated' cost of £2l. The drain continuing from this cross drain to Thames Road would have to be cleaned out, a ; nd would coat about £29. The drain from the main outfall leading to King Street would need cleaning out also, and the estimate for same is £27. This does not include 150 ft of this length from the western side of Corbett Street on the boundary between the Agricultural Society’s property and Mr W. Lipsham's section. This is piped with a 21in pipe, which is, quite inadequate. The pipes are right on the boundary between these two properties, and Mr Lipsham has been approached, • and he,, recognising the benefit generally to the town, willingly gave his consent to* the pipes being lifted and an open drain constructed, provided the council fenced the drain on the Agricultural Society’s property side in order to prevent cattle getting down the same. This is quite a reasonable request under the circumstances, and I. would suggest that the council write to Mr Lipsham expressing appreciation of his public spirit. “To carry out the arrangements, the consent of .the Agricultural Society is also desired, both to the opening of the drain and the fencing of same. The secretary has been consulted and has given us reason to think that his society will also agree. There will of course, be considerable benefit to the land held by the society if thia improved drainage scheme is given effect to. The estimated cost of opening up this section and fencing same is £l5.

“The next area to consider is Normanby Road, where the storm-water trouble has apparently always been serious, and where it frequently threatens to invade the. business premises near Cr, de Castro’s, and covers the road near the Public Works offices and in the vicinity bt Miss Dawber’s residence. This area is catered for by a 21in pipe, which runs- from about Thorp Street along Normanby Road .to Street, and then along Arney Street, which it crosses and runs through the domain about the centre of the tennis courts, discharging into the open drain at the bottom of King Street. “Observations taken during several high rainfall periods have proved that this, pipe from Arney Street is inadequate, and it was, to relieve this that the 12in pipe was laid across the playing field portion of the domain before

the open drain, was filled, in, To obtain the benefit of this, however,it is necessary to connect with the cesspit at the corner of Arney Street and Normanby Road.

“We recommend that an open drain . 12in wide on the bottom with a % to 1 batter be constructed along the Willoughby Street boundary of the domain from .the 12in pipe drain to the main entrance in Arney Street, and a 12in concrete pipe drain laid from this entrance to the intersection of Normanby Road. This would still further load the 21in pipe section near Corbett Street, and make that improvement absolutely essential . if the real benefit is to be obtained. The estimated cost is: Open drain, £2B ; 12in pipe drain, £47. “This gives a tot . a l estimated cost of £229, towards which two-thirds of the cost of cleaning the outfall drain from King Street cross drain td Thames Road'should, we think, be contributed by the ratepayers through whose property it runs. This amount to, say, £2O, making a total estimated' cost of £209, plus the contribution to the Public Works scheme, £455, making an estimated totafli of £664; ■’ i

“The area over the traffic bridge on the Te Aroha and Old Te Aroha roads suffers very severely from accumulated storm-water. Observations taken on four occasions last winter showed that on each occasion the water on the river was several feet lower than the small temporary flood-gate discharging some of this water near the Criterion bridge, and that the temporary pipe under the stop-hank was too email and too high. This floodgate and culvert will be entirely removed with the commencement of work on the new traffic bridge, and representations have been malde to the department, when installing the per- , manent outlet, to lower and increase the size of it; and I have reason to believe that this request, will, be acceded to. It would then be necessary for the borough to widen and deepen the drain in Te Aroha Roiad, and pos- - sibly enough fall could ,"be gained ;to lower the culvert crossing -the street ■ opposite the old Te Aroha Road sufficiently -to enable the water to be got out of the low part of that road. Thfc . area will require further investigation and attention when the outlet as suggested is provided.

- “We recommend .that the suggested works in this report should be authorised. It is admitted that the cost is considerable, and that it will tax ,the financial resources of 'the' borough very much during ,the toext-financial year: but it is probably the most urgent work facing the town at the present time, and the improvement should be a very valuable one.

"There is some doubt as to whether the department can put,the work in hand immediately, but every effort should be made to avoid all possible delay, as the prestettt state >is in- . creasingly detrimental to the borough, /y

“These ’ observations, have been taken and this report is presented with a realisation of personal limitations for whatever it may be worth, and out of an earnest desire fo effect some permanent improvement in what is one of the- most] unsatisfactory aspects of Paeroa. Its principal value consists in the reliable and valuable report of the Public Works,'Department.” >

Cr. Hare, in congratulating the Mayor on the valuable information supplied in the report, said that the storm-water drainage was one of the 'wonst aspects of the borough.

Cr. Edwards also tendered his congratulations to the Mayor, and said that although the expenditure locked large, on the face of it, it would be’ money well spent. The flooding of the low areas was, and had always been, <a serious detriment to the progress of the borough. He hoped that the council would give the recommendations contained in the report whole-heart-ed support. So far aa he could see, the work was a necessity, and it was desirable that it should be put in hand at once. He moved that the re- . port be adopted, and that the council be prepared to contribute the £449 required by the Public Works Department

Cr. Porritt seconded the motion, and added his quota,, of praise of the manner in which the Mayor had brought down such a comprehensive report. As. a layman who had given considerable thought to the question of drainage, he said he was, agreeably surprised to learn that such a serious defect'could be remedied at such a comparatively small cost. .

Cr. Flatt said that the worU would stand as a landmark to .the capabilities and energies of the Mayor. He was rather doubtful if the work suggested would adequately cope with the whole of the storm-water, but it was. a matter that would have to be faced before the borough could progress satisfactorily.

> In supporting, the feudatory- re-; marks made by previous speakers in reference to' the work of the Mayor Cr. Silcock said that he was a bit sceptical about the culvert in Taylpr’s Avenue being large enough. He was very anxious ,to see the work put in hand at once.

Cr. de Castro also spoke in favour of the suggested work, and congratulated the Mayor on the splendid report.

The resolution was carried, and it was agreed that the local office of the Public Works Department be thanked for its valuable help in supplying the necessary data, without which it would have been ail-most impossible to have brought down such & comprehensive and reliable report. It was, also decided that ithe questain of obtaining further consideration in connection with the financial arrangements ‘from the department be left in the hands of the Mayor and the chairman of the Finance Committee, with power to act.