WATER BOARD MAY BUY LAKE PROPERTY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 363, 25 May 1928, Page 16

WATER BOARD MAY BUY LAKE PROPERTY

PROPOSAL BY CONFERENCE BMPENSATION UNLIKELY After full discussion at Takapuna last evening a conference of representatives of the four North Shore boroughs recommended that the North Shore Water Board should purchase a strip of land from one to two chains wide around Lake Pupuke and free the remainder cf the basin for building under an approved drainage scheme. “This situation is unique in New Zealand,” said the Mayor of Takapuna, Mr. J. W. Williamson, in outlining briefly the purpose of the conference. For the last 37 years the lake has been used as a water supply. Some time ago the Health Department issued restrictions prohibiting buildings or subdivisions in the lake watershed. Rates still continue to be collected from these properties. This position has been unsatisfactory to owners, who were forced to pay rates while being unable to make any use of their properties. The question has been brought to a head by the recent revaluation of the borough, in which the restrictions were taken into account, and the values of properties decreased by as much as 90 per cent, in some instances. The total value of these lands was £ 80,310, and has dropped to £42,640, little more than half. The Takapuna borough will consequently lose approximately £1,700 in rates this year. Some arrangement is desired whereby the other threo boroughs receiving benefit from the method of keeping the lake supply free from pollution will contribute toward this sum. On a population basis this amounts to Is 4*d each on last census figures. The Act under which this is claimed is that dealing with contributions by local bodies toward work of public utility, such as bridges and harbours. “It is necessary to go to New York City to find a parallel case,” continued Mr. Williamson. Here a water board wished to use a lake as a water supply but was prevented by an injunction granted by the highest Court. LAKE RATING ILLEGAL

The vie;w that Takapuna’s high rate levy on the lakeside owners was illegal in that the valuations were wrongfully raised, was taken by Mr. E. G. Skeates, Mayor of Birkenhead, when Devonport and later Northcoto and Birkenhead began taking water from the lake, there was no Takapuna borough, and the valuations were about the same as under uhe new system. These should never have been raised. “We should not permit the Health Department to ride rough-shod over public bodies,” declared Mr. J. Hislop, of Devonport! “There is no need to guard the watershed so carefully.” He instanced the London supply, the larger part of which comes from the Thames River. The Dunedin Council runs excursions to the watershed bush areas at Somerville’s dam and similar places. He considered the Auckland system of placing miles of barbed wire round the dams was absurd. Mr. A. E. Greenslade. Mayor of Northcote, was emphatic in his assertion that Takapuna is not entitled to compensation. Should the * Government seize part of the borough for an airdrome there would be no outcry and the people of the Dominion would not b© expected to contribute toward the 4©»s al rates. Th* water supply be-

longs to the Crown, according to the ruling of a Minister many years ago. Mr. Greenslade thought that satisfactory results could be obtained only by the Government taking over the watershed. SMALL AREA AMPLE Mr. A. E. Aldridge, Mayor of Devonport, was certain the Government would not consider spending money to confer benefit on a municipality. “I consider an area of from one to two chains around the lake margin will be ample to preserve the. purity,” he continued. “Buildings erected on the watershed would not affect the lake if drainage is carried out correctly.” This opinion is held by two well-known engineers. Mr. Aldridge, who is chairman of the North Shore Water Board, then moved the motion, which Mr. W. A. Ellis, of Northcote, seconded. It was carried, Mr. Greenslade alone dissenting. The cost of this strip is estimated at about £IO,OOO. The Water Board has power to raise double this amount without taking a. poll. Another conference will be held when tho Water Board has considered the question fully. Should the report be favourable the views of the Health Department will b€> sought. The question will not be settled finally in time to affect the estimates for this financial year.

LAKE LEVEL RISES

The level of Lake Pupuke has risen a foot since May 1. At the beginning of the month the water was sin below high water mark and has now risen to 7in above this level through the rain of the last three weeks. This represents several million gallons of water, as the lake has an area of 264 acres.