BOROUGH ACCESS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 67, 29 April 1946, Page 5

BOROUGH ACCESS

NEW HIGHWAY PROPOSAL 'COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION Following the recent conference between Borough Council, Harbour Board and County Council and Messrs. Thornton and Ronayne, representing the P.W.D. regarding the proposed course of the Tauranga State Highway into the Borough of Whakatane, the County Council discussed the matter further at its meeting last Wednesday.

The Chairman (Mr J. L. Burnett) rsaid that one thing which had surprised him was that the course of the Rotorua State Highway had only been determined as far as Awakeri. Whether it would traverse White Pine Bush or not was still open to question but would be settled at the meeting of the Main Highways Board in June. The delegates too, had been assured that the Tauranga State Highway would continue its present course and lead into the Borough. Cr Luxton stated that figures submitted by Mr Ronayne showed that a traffic .tally taken at Poroporo -corner some years ago indicated that -the number of vehicles using the Rotorua highway was 2 to 1 •against the Tauranga route. He was of the opinion however that most of the vehicles concerned would be owned by settlers on the Rangitaiki and did not therefore deserve to be classed as through traffic from Rotorua. A correct test could only be taken much further out. The chairman added that he gained the impression that the Department had a roading plan already in mind but they did not actually disclose what it was. He also thought that the new bridge would be constructed only a little down stream :from the present one. Mr Ronayne .had said that most of the proposals ;put forward by the local bodies present had been put forward before and investigated by the P.W.D. Cr Luxton said that Mr Ronayne had mentioned that to construct the .new highway across the Te Rahu 'would mean the formation of four miles of new road. This was not necessarily so, as Fortune’s Road could be raised and utilised as a lead to the new access, and would obviate a lot of heavy expenditure. In any case he did not favour the ■construction of highways along stop banks.

The Council decided to make a point of bringing all these matters forcibly to the notice of the Minister when he visited the town in order to show him exactly what could be affected by carrying out the . plan upon which all local bodies were unanimous.