Page 22 - City of Cessnock Water Supply and Sewerage Service Utility

BetwEen June 1950 and May 1951, new fifteen-inch ( 15") cast-iron cement-lined pipes
were laid between Neath Reservoir and Cessnock township replacing the earlier
thirteen-inch (13") pipe-main.

To meet the need to improve the water supply beyond Bellbird, a new
water pumping station was constructed. Land at the corner of Lochinvar Street
and Wollombi Road was ' acquired in two parts. Lots 13 and 40 were purchased on
25th October, 1950 from the Estate of Henry Crossing. Lot 12 was also acquired
by purchase on 14th March, 1951 from Mrs. Warren. This site is just below the
Cessnock No. 2 (Bellbird) Reservoir in Keelindi Street, Bellbird. A small brick
shed was built to house the new pumping equipment. To operate the two units,
two Thompson-Castlemaine pumps were purchased on 5th April, 1951. Contract No.
645 ·for a total price of £1612.12.0 ($3225.00) authorised the purchase. The pumps
worked at 1460 revolutions per minute with a five-inch (5") suction and five-inch
(5") drive section to provide four hundred (400) gallons per minute for a lift
to a two hundred and fifty (250') feet level. The pumps were driven by a
Crompton Parkinson thirty (30) H.P. Squirrel caged electric motor (Note: 415 Volt,
3 phase, 50 cylces.)

Cessnock township had been settled on land that had been drained by
small natural creeks, that helped form the head waters of Black Creek. In its
early agricultural history these creeks were the valuable source of farm water.
As its coal industry grew these agricultural lands were turned into residential
estates. These winding creeks became hazards in heavy rain periods that caused
"back-ups" and "Flooding" in low levels. The creek alongside Cessnock main
shopping area, became so polluted that it was derogatorily nicknamed "Lavender
Creek". The "Cessnock Eagle" newspaper in its issue dated 24th July, 1916 informs
that a department of Works and Ways officer was to report on the question of
improving Black Creek, which was a menance to public health.

In January 1921 Doctor Dick, Government Medical_ Officer recommended the
concreting of Lavender Creek. A new Cessnock Shire Council elected in
December 1920, as a good political pointer to itself, eagerly followed this
suggestion. It arranged that Lavender Creek should be re-directed and re-moulded
from the Butter Factory to theBridge on Main Street, Cessnock, deviating from
the old channel and be concreted progressively along the new channel behind the
shops in Vincent Street, Cessnock. This concrete work of the creek commenced
from M. Light and Son (Now Grace Bros.) at various stages.