WHAKATANE RIVER BRIDGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 85, 29 June 1945, Page 5

WHAKATANE RIVER BRIDGE

delayed PROTECTIVE MEASURES COUNTY. COUNCIL'S CRITICISM Strang criticism of the long delay of the P.W.D. in tackling the protection work necessary to arrest the serious erosion at the Whakatane Bridge approaches , was voiced by members of the County Council at the June meeting last Tuesday. Tlie chairman (Mr J. L. Burnett) said that as far as he know nothing had been done in spite of the fact ,that the council had paid over its share of the cost as far back as last August. The position now had developed from a minor job into a major one and it would probably cost more than the original estimate of £1500. This however was no fault of the councils and he did not think * it should be hekl responsible for it. Cr McCready mentioned the plight of A. E. Gadd ? a who had been forced to shift bis home back twice to escape the heavy ( erosion of his property. It was. a wonderful state of affairs when an individual was made to suffer as a result of State dalliance. The State Advances an organisation which was . 5 ] | interested in the development of .

the property was as callous as. a coav about it all 5 and squeezed every- ( thing for their dues. , It was left to the Chairman arid ' the County Engineer to bring the matter up for urgent discussion at the meeting of the District High- 1 ways Council at Tauranga } and to endeavour to have a start made on the work. r (In connection with the above we have been informed by the local P.W.D. supervisor that on June 12 workmen were manpowered to the department in order to do the wor'k } which was commenced next day. The preventative work is already in hand and cyery possible measure is being taken to speed it up. It had been impossible to make a start earlier owing to the complete absence of labour available. Ed).