EAST COAST HIGHWAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 45, 2 February 1945, Page 4

EAST COAST HIGHWAY

. IN a semi-earnest manner a local businessman suggested to a BEACON representative recently that there should be initiated in this town an 'Awake Whakatane' campaign. He backed up his argument by reciting the oft-repeated state™ mnt that the average businessman cared little for the progress of the town, and only studied his business turnover from month to month. The idea might be readily instituted in connection with the main highway question, a subject which has been exercising the Municipal mind very considerably of late. Now that the Chamber of Commerce has exploded the myth regarding the fixation of the East Cooast highway through the Waimana Gorge, the people of this town have the time and opportunity of making their opinion felt in official quarters in no uncertain manner— and surely they have the right to be heard. What is wrong with our town that we are afraid to agitate by all within our power for the new highway to be brought direct into our shopping centre, around the Strand and by an easy grade to Hilicrest via a semi-circular sweep at the rear of the Pa site. Such a plan has everything to commend it. Not merely the smartening up of the harbour -front, but also a direct and even access to Hilicrest which could be benefitted immensely by the opening up of road access new building sections with glorious coastal views. Six hundred signed a petition to the Minister of Works praying for such a route five years ago. From our observations we have no reason to believe that the majority of the residents of this town still desire such a route in preference to either the Edgecumbe, Timeatua or the Maraetotara Gorge propositions. If we have any pride in our town at all now is the time to assert our rights to the highway which will serve the whole of the East Coast.