EAST COAST ACCESS ROAD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 28, 23 June 1939, Page 4

EAST COAST ACCESS ROAD

IT appears somewhat unfortunate that the public meeting convened by His Worship the Mayor to discover a general consensus of opinion relative to the route to be taken by the proposed new East Coast Highway, should be so barren of constructive suggestions. All that the Member for the District has officially gleaned from the meeting, is that the good citizens of Whakatane do not wish the highway taken past their hospital. In other words the Public Works Department may please itself as to the line of route provided the local hospital is given a wide berth. While in no way averse to the recommendation, we feel that the main point at issue was missed completely. Here was a representative gathering of residents, called together for the express purpose of voicing their opinion on the proposed route, and there is hardly one single word uttered in favour of bringing the main highway through the town of Whakatane. What's wrong with our town, that it should be- allowed to remain on a side road. The issue of the BEACON last Monday printed a plan indicating; very definitely the suggested route, which runs parallel to the town's main street, and involves the crossing of the headland to Ohope and from there across the backwaters of Ohiwa to Opotiki. It is claimed by some.that such an undertaking would be far too expensive, and the P.W.D. is already pledged to an alternative route, and that a main highway through the town would be of no material benefit. If one or all of these arguments were correct, and this has yet to be proved, surely the natural thing for all public spirited citizens to do is to agitate for as much state recognition as possible. Left out of the survey for the East Coast Railway, Whakatane, a vigorously growing town with a definite future ahead, cannot afford to be pushed on to a side road that acts as a dead end. Through passengers, if the Maraetotara suggestion is followed will see nothing of the actual town, and will take away with them a vague impression of suburban Whakatane which will be adjudged, the: town proper. Anything of the town's standing as a port, as a unique historical spot with remarkable Maori traditions, will be lost, while the waterfront and , picturesque Heads will be missed altogether. These are features that strike the average visitor most forcibly and even though modern traffic does not allow for any great halting space to passengers, the impression of Whakatane as a busy centre, with port facilities and a potential commercial centre would be carried from one end of New Zealand to the other. The result would be seen reflected in the increased number of visitors, wider business publicity, and greater consideration from

the legislature. Is there a single real argument against bringing the main highway through Whakatane itself. Would it not be far more conclusive to give our representative a definite guide as to the will of the people of Whakatane of £his important matter of route than to leave it open provided it did not interfere with the hospital.