KOPURIKI BRIDGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 30, 3 December 1943, Page 5

KOPURIKI BRIDGE

® ACCESS TO GALATEA

NOW NEARLY COMPLETED

The. construction of the Kopuriki bridge at Galatea Avliicli has been undertaken by tlie Whakatane County Council as a direct County project has now been made the subject of £1' for £2 Government, subsidy chielly as the. result of the. chairman's (Mr J. L. Burnett's) representations to the Minister of Public Works when in Wellington.

At the last meeting of the. council the District Engineer P.W.D. wrote stating, that during the last few years the. council had applied on several occasions for financial assistance towards the construction ot the Kopuriki Bridge, and on 18/2 '42 was notified, that Cabinet had approAed of a subsidy of £1000, £1 for £2 on condition that an reinforced concrete structure Avas erected. On 15/9/42 the District Engineer advised the council that Avork would have to be deferred,, and, also in a communication from the Hon. Minister of Public Works addressed to Mr Sullivan, M.P., it was stated that reinstatement of the subsidy would have to stand over until more favourable conditions existed. It was. now observed that the construction of a timber bridge Avas Hearing completion and therefore as proposals had not been submitted for approval, he advised that no Government subsidy could be granted or paid for the construction of the Kopuriki bridge and approaches.

The County Chairman reported that he had interviewed the. Hon. Minister of Public Works in Wellington. The Hon. Minister had made u statement similar to that contained. in the District Engineer's letter, but the committee will remember that the council, owing to the urgent necessity for the Kopuri'ki. bridge, had dccided to build such in wood. Resulting from representations lie,, the speaker, had made in Wellington the Hon. Minister had approved, of a grant of. £1 for £2, a condition of such being that plans and specifications be submitted to the P.W.D. Tauranga immediately.

Cr McGougan extended tlie council's congratulations to the chairman on the success of liis interview and his representations.

The council referred the matter to the county engineer for action.