THE OHOPE SETTLEMENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 29, 4 December 1945, Page 4

THE OHOPE SETTLEMENT

OHOPE Beach is in the news. At both School Committee and County Council meetings, the question of the greater expansion of the settlement and the administration needed for its growing community has occupied prominent features in the debate. Added to this, the census discloses that those residing at the beach are, in effect, but the citizens of greater Whakatane (if such a term is permissible). The plain fact is that Ohope contains between three and four hundred permanent residents., who are forced to live there on account-of the acute housing short-: age in the town. We are actually fortunate in having this ready-made, settlement to handle the town's overflow 4 The problem, however, of catering' for the new community fast growing up at the beach is another thing. As yet it remains solely under the control of the County Council—a roading authority whose main interest is the upkeep of the thoroughfares leading to and serving the beach and the collection of rates. The municipal features of the settlement are not a recognised responsibility of the Council, and the beach community is thrown back on a poverty-stricken Domain Board, with no means of income other than the occasional donation from County and Borough Councils. Ohope definitely needs planning, organised and regular services, and communal control. These are urgently necessary right away. If they are not enforced, Ohope will grow into g, straggling unsightly collection of houses with no planned layout or beautification. The move to inaugu-. rate a side-school is a good one, as it will give yet another argument to that progressive element so keen to make the resort self-contained. Complaints regarding the total absence of control over the holiday periods is one of the most serious aspects of Ohope's growth. There is an obvious need for an authority not merely to impose by-laws,, but to see that these are strictly enforced and carried out.. There is a strong desire to create a recognised administrative body at the beach, with, powers sufficient to embrace those of a Borough Council or Town Board, It may be argued that the beach is no different to Edgecumbe or Taneatua, where the County authority is sufficient to control and administrate the growth of those settlements. The subject is entirely different with regard to Ohope, where annually, between two and three thousand visitors flock to the beach, and where every semblance of accommodation is taxed to capacity. Again, Ohope is a steadily-growing community., which is likely to be accelorated as transport becomes normal and access easier. The demand now, is for the awakening of municipal control in order that Ohope may stand more on its own feet with powers to rectify its own problems and the right to play an important part in shaping its own destiny.