FUTURE OF EDGECUMBE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 76, 29 May 1945, Page 5

FUTURE OF EDGECUMBE

MINISTER'S REPLY AWAITED •COUNTY COUNCIL'S CONCERN Whilst awaiting the decision of the Minister of Lands on the question of future sub-divisions in the township of the Whakatane County Council expressed at its Tuesday's meeting the utmost concern regarding the present position. Reporting on the recent meeting xit Edgecumbe. the County Clerk • stated that a committee comprising Crs Hunter, McCraeken, Leslie, Butler and Lux ton met a Departmental Committee, comprising Messrs R. G. Dick R. L. Innis (Chief Drainage Engineer), R. H. P. Ronayne (District Engineer P.W.D.), R. B. Hammond (Town' Planner, Housing Department), and W. Traill (Chief Surveyor) at Edgecumbe on AYednesday, May 9. Also present were Messrs Gow, Radcliffe, O. V. Marx and R. Thompson representing Edgecumbe residents. Matters in regard to further Edge--cumbe subdivisions were exhaustively considered and the following resolution was carried: "That this meeting of Whakatane County Councillors and Edgecumbe district residents, request the Hon. Minister of Lands to approve Edgecumbe Township subdivisions subject to •any reasonable stopbank restrictions that he considers fit." "Speaking as a resident of thirty .years standing, and as one who has seen Edgecumbe under all phases I state definitely that the stand taken .by the Drainage Engineer is most unreasonable," said Cr Mc(?racken j who went on to say that with reasonable stopbank protection Edgecumbe was as safe if not safer than -any other town similarly situated. .He added that the upshot of the whole question had arisen out of the Housing Department's enquiry into suitability of Edgecumbe as a 'centre in which to erect State dwellings. The Rangitaiki River was not •a dangerous one, and in any ?ase there was always a furteen-hour Avarning from Galatea when it Avas likely to rise. Cr Hunter said he. appreciated Mr Innes's desire not to make any mistakes in his opinion as Chief Engineer but at the same time he thought the Government should take more notice of settlers' who had Ha ted. on the. middle plains over a long period. The Council decided that the Roman Catholic Church authorities be advised that matters in regard to ithe Edgecumbe church site avII reiquire to: be held-over until the Hon. Minister of Lands' decision is received in regard to Edgecumbe subdivisions.