Reviving a fundraising tradition

A fundraising tradition could be revived after an initiative from Johnsonville Mall.

Manager Gerard Earl said local charities had raised funds in the past with volunteer car washes until council officers stopped them because of contaminated water running through stormwater drains. Last month Kapi-Mana News highlighted how car washing could could carry heavy-metal contaminated road dirt down stormwater drains and into streams and rivers.

The mall has engaged a plumber and drainlayer to clean out a silt trap at a former car wash on the site, where the Broderick Rd Caltex service station once stood.

It has installed a new hose fitting and provided hi-viz vests and traffic management barriers. It will be possible to wash cars with the wastewater passing through the trap, which drains to the wastewater system, rather than to a stormwater.

Wellington Regional Council natural resources spokesman Chris Laidlaw said the initiative sounded a like good idea.

‘‘ The less water that goes through the stormwater system from potentially contaminated sources, the better,’’ he said.

Earl said the site would undergo a trial on Saturday in aid of Johnsonville Rugby Club juniors, who are raising funds to travel to Australia.

For information or to arrange to use the car wash phone 461 6201.