EDGECUMBE'S FUTURE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 74, 22 May 1945, Page 5

EDGECUMBE'S FUTURE

PUBLIC MEETINGS HELD

VISIT OF GOVERNMENT

OFFICEKS

The merits and demerits of the present site of the Edgecumbe township were fully discussed at two meetings held last week. The iirst meeting was called for the purpose of formulating a strong protest against the action of the SurveyorGeneral, R. G. Wick, in prohibiting further s»b-division in the Edgecumbe township area.,

Held in the Presbyterian Hall under the chairmanship of Mr W. Hunter the meeting attracted an attendance of 24. Various speakers contributed to a lengthy discussion which stressed the need of establishing a well planned and flood-safe area within the township for future development.

A committee comprising Messrs. Tan B. Gow v W. S. O. V. Marx and W. J. R. Thompson was appointed to meet Government officials with a view to attempting to find a solution to the problem.

Present at a meeting held on the 9th were Messrs R. G. Wick (Sur-veyor-General), C. S. Traill (Chief Surveyor, Auckland) s R. E. 1 lines (Chief Drainage Engineer) ? R. H. P. Ronayne (P.W.D. Tanranga) R. B. Hammond and C. E. L. Thomas (Housing Department), Crs W. A. McCracken (chairman) } Hunter Leslie, Butler and Luxton, the County Clerk, Mr C. G. Lucas and Messrs Gow Marx RadclifTc and 'J t* Thompson. Mr W. A. McCracken welcomed the Government officers and In expressing thanks for making available their time } hoped that as a result of the meeting matters relative to the progress of Edgecumbe would be clarified. Mr Wick gave reasons for his decision in suspending further subdivision pointing out that the danger of the township on its present site was very real and the tendency was for greater Hoods in the and suggested some, thought should be given to the running of the township to a safer situation.

Mr Jnnes. gave support to this view with technical explanations and data, and said it was simply a question of whether it was to be the township or the rich farm lands that were to be saved, although he agreed the present township was ideally situated 116 saw only advantage in the transfer of site.

Mr Ronaync explained that the last flood was caused by the flooding of one. tributary of the Rangitaiki and considered protection by high stopbanking vitally necessary in the case of both tributaries carrying flood waters. The deer menace was growing, said Mr Ronayne, and their depredations on bu&h vegetation was alarming.

Mr Hammond said his department would not build houses in any dani-» ger area and urged consideration of two sites for the re-establishment of Edgecumbe one towards Te Teko and the other towards Awakeri. The change of sites said Hr Hammond j would provide an excellent opportunity l'or planning an up to date and closely settled area ? safe and convenient providing some of the City amenities for the rural dwellers.

Mr Gow made a masterly defence for the retention of Edgecumbe on it.s present site ancl thought the Government officers were unduly alarmed .

'"Floods have not caused any loss, of human life" said Mr Gow ? "and stock losses have been negligible. Inundated land has shown a remarkably swift recovery, and the maintenance of the present stopbanks would meet the position." Development he said, must be taken here and the question of another site was unthinkable. Mr McCracken ably supported the views of Mr Gow and gave his experience of the river for over thirty years. A strongly worded protest moved by Cr Hunter, seconded by Mr Gow i? was carried uanimously and handed to the Government oil'ieers by the chairman,