WHAKATANE BAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 85, 12 June 1946, Page 5

WHAKATANE BAR

DANGER OF SHALLOWING BOARD TO INVESTIGATE The recent shallowing of the Whakatane harbour bar during the course of the drought and the succession of easterly gales, was the cause of considerable discussion at the Harbour Board meeting last Friday. The matter was introduced through a communication from the Northern Steamship Company pointing out that while the company was endeavouring to maintain its service, the bar conditions were a considerable handicap.

Mr H. Warren said he considered the position serious if vessels were compelled to lay off the spit, and then to traverse to Kutarere to lighten before they could enter the port. He asked if it was likely to happen again. Chairman’s Opinion The-chairman (Mr W. R. Boon) said it was hardly likely. During that period the bar was shallower than it had been for twenty years. It was most unusual and could be directly attributable to the easterly weather. Opotiki suffered in the same way. With the restoration of normal conditions the trouble had been rectified. It had been said that a permanent safeguard could be made by protective work costing about £2OOO. This to his mind was improbable. It was a case oLworking with shifting sand, and would cost many thousands to rectify. If it happened again it might be necessary for the Board to tackle it, but if it was likely to occur at rare intervals he could not see the necessity of spending £15,000 or £20,000 on the job. The only effectual way to control it, if the Board did grapple with the problem was to commence inside and gradually extend the stonework outside. Reclamation. not Responsible In answer to a further question Mr Boon said that he did not for one moment suppose that the gradual reclamation of the mudflats had made any difference at all. The small amount of loss in this respect as far as surface water was concerned would not affect the flush at the Heads.

Mr Richardson: All rivers in the County were very dry this season. The normal flow of water was reduced heavily. Mr Hunter: It is only a matter of a few months, and we will be back to the old depth. There is no reason for us to worry. On the suggestion of the chairman, it was decided to obtain an estimate from the engineer (Mr C. H. Brebner) as to approximate cost of protective works sufficient to guarantee a clear channel.