XN000022-1982-05-19 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1982

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+EACH PERMIT ISSUED BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE CONTAINS STRINGENT CONDITIONS COVERING THE METHOD OF EXCAVATION, PROPER GUARDING AND LIGHTING, NECESSARY PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC DIVERS FONS AND THE REINSTATEMENT OF PAVEMENT SURFACES.+ HE SAID.

+ALL SUCH EXCAVATION WORKS ARE INSPECTED ON A WEEKLY BASIS BY HIGHWAYS OFFICE TECHNICAL STAFF AND CONTRAVENTION OF THE STATED CONDITIONS WOULD RESULT IN CANCELLATION OF THE PERMIT AND POSSIBLE PROSECUTION. +

BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL

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THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, DESIGNED TO IMPROVE CONTROL OF THE BUILDING OPERATIONS IN THE MID-LEVELS AREA TO SAFEGUARD THE STABILITY OF SLOPES, HAD ITS SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR DAVID MCDONALD SAID, +BUILDING DEVELOPMENT IN MID-LEVELS AREA IS AT PRESENT RESTRICTED BY VIRTUE OF THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTION OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT (MID-LEVELS) ORDINANCE ENACTED IN MAY 1979.

HE SAID THAT THIS STATUTORY MORATORIUM WAS ENACTED FOR A PERIOD UP TO DECEMBER 31, 1981 FOR A DETAILED GEOTECHNICAL STUDY TO BE CARRIED OUT TO ESTABLISH WHAT RESTRICTIONS AND CONTROLS WERE NEEDED FOR FUTURE BUILDING WORKS IN THE AREA.

IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY EXTENDED UNTIL JULY 31, 1982, TO ENABLE THE PRESENT BILL TO BE PREPARED, TOGETHER WITH SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION.

MR MCDONALD POINTED OUT THAT GROUNDWATER CONDITIONS HAD A MOST IMPORTANT EFFECT ON THE STABILITY OF A SLOPE AND CLAUSE 8 OF THE BILL CONCERNED GROUNDWATER DRAINAGE WORKS.

HE SAID, THE BUILDING AUTHORITY SHOULD THEREFORE BE ABLE TO REQUIRE THAT FOR ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION ADEQUATE DRAINAGE IS PROVIDED TO ENSURE THAT THE SLOPES CONCERNED HAVE AN ADEQUATE MARGIN OF SAFETY.

+ IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES AND IN THE INTERESTS OF THE STABILITY OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD THE DRAINAGE WORKS MAY NEED TO EXTEND INTO ADJOINING LAND, FOR EXAMPLE, BY DRILLING SOME SMALL DIAMETER HORIZONTAL DRAINS BENEATH THE ADJOINING PROPERTY.+

/IN ORDER