LAWN FORMATION IN STREETS

Southland Times, Issue 24228, 11 September 1940, Page 4

LAWN FORMATION IN STREETS

Engineer’s Estimate

Of Cost

CRITICISM OFFERED BYi COUNCILLORS

The adoption of the contract system was advocated at the meeting of the City Council last night during a discussion on the cost of concrete kerbing and channelling and lawn formation in streets. The estimates of costs by the city engineer (Mr F. M. Corkill) were criticized. Notice of motion was given that future work be done by contract. A report by the engineer on the suggestion that streets be formed with concrete kerbing and channels and grass lawns (as in Wellesley avenue and other streets now being constructed), stated that it was necessary first to point out that the conversion of existing streets was a much more expensive matter than was the original construction by this method, since the old streets in most cases had very poor grades. If concrete kerbs were to be made, then the street grades had to be reconstructed very considerably. Except where reconstruction had already been done footpaths were also extremely irregular. The construction suggested required regrading of streets and paths, widening street gravelling from an average of 14 feet to 28 feet, concrete kerb and channel, alterations to drainage and construction of new sumps, and provision of vehicle entrances. In most cases the material on the flanks would not suffice for the making of lawns on the new style and soil would need to be brought in. There was usually no available source of supply of soil.

ESTIMATE OF COST “I estimate that the cost of such work would be not less than £4O a chain of street,” he stated. “For the average 11 chain block, this would be £440. An estimate given in March 1939 gave the cost of kerbing and channelling all streets not now so constructed at £147,420. The cost of converting approximately 66 miles of streets (outside the main blocks of the city) to the lawn type would be £210,000 (including the kerbing). It does not seem practicable to do such work little by little, as the cost of even a mile a year would be over £3OOO, which is about half the total amount devoted to streets upkeep, and this could scarcely be spent to the benefit of so small a portion of the area. I have to remind the council that £2500 has been allotted out of the loan for the construction of six miles of kerbs in a specified list of streets. A further provision of £5OO is made in the current estimates, and is being expended as labour is available and arrangements allow.” LOWER COST ELSEWHERE Cr W. J. Thomas said that the lawn formation wit,h kerbing an 1 channelling had been adopted with great success in St Kilda at a cost of only one-fourth of the estimate of the city engineer. He could only come to the conclusion that the engineer was unsympathetic to the movement and was endeavouring to sidestep it. lie could assure the engineer that he would not allow himself to be sidestepped on this issue. The estimate of ."MO, a chain or £3200 a mile was ridiculous. He had built street railways for less. It was time the Mayor and councillors woke up to the position. The work which was being done now reflected credit on no one. The adoption of the contract system was advocated by Cr R. T. Parsons. He said 1 he was satisfied that if tenders were called for kerbing and channelling th? council would make a saving of about two-thirds of the present cost. He moved that the council adopt the contract system for all future work. Cr Thomas said the council should formulate a policy of what work was to be done and then call tenders.

The engineer said tha' there was much more work in the job than councillors appeared to think. The roadway had to be rebuilt and extended to double its present width. He was strongly in favour of contract work, but in previous experience he was satisfied it was not practicable for road work. The position would tend to get worse in the future.

Cr Parsons gave notice of motion that the contract system be adopted for future work. He withdrew his previous motion.

ATTENTION TO REQUESTS Cr A. Wachner complained that tha Works Committee gave little sympathetic consideration to requests made at the council table for improvements to streets. He had asked that some attention be paid to the Eye street area in tidying up the flanks of the roadway and the channels, but nothing had been done. The residents in that area had suffered severely in the flood in February and he was sure they would greatly appreciate any attention given to their part of the city now.

The chairman of the Works Committee (Cr A. Scott) said that the work would be attended to in due course. It was not practicable to send men to do [ a particular job whenever a request was made. The plan of work had to be prepared and workmen would be put on the job when engaged on other tasks in that area.

Cr Wachner said that throughout his term on the council he had had experience of requests for improvements being held up. When he complained about the position all the satisfaction he could obtain was that the work would be done eventually. That was scarcely encouraging to the residents. The streets were in a disgraceful state in many parts of the city. Cr Parsons said that the Works Committee appeared to obstruct other councillors who drew attention to urgent work.