BOROUGH COUNCIL WANTS A BRIDGE TO BOARD MILLS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 38, 14 September 1949, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL WANTS A BRIDGE TO BOARD MILLS

A recommendation that the new traffic bridge to Whakatane be built on a site almost opposite the Whakatane Board Mills to link up on the town side of the river just below the end of Landing Road, was passed by the Whakatane Borough Council at its monthly meeting on Monday night. This is a complete reversal of the Council’s earlier decision when it had decided on linking up with Hinemoa Street. The Council still turned down the proposal of the Main Highways Board to build on a site just above the present structure. The decision to support the Mill site was made after a lengthy survey was made of each suggested site by the council delegates to other local bodies, the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, the deputy mayor, Mr C. S. Armstrong, and Cr H. G. Warren. It was agreed that this site would be the best for the whole district, even if it meant retaining the present bridge. Could Not Agree

Mr Barry said that after an inspection of all the sites he had come to the conclusion that the mill site v/ould be the best. Recently delegates of the Whakatane County and Borough Councils and the Whakatane Harbour Board had met but they had been unable to come to any decision.

The chief disadvantages of the Selwyn Road and Hinemoa Street sites was erosion, Mr Barry said. At the mill site the river was wider so that the rise was not so great during floods, as at the present bridge. Again land on either side of the river is higher and approach roads would not have to be built up.

An important point that the Council had to consider was the huge mill industry and the big business it had brought to the town. It was possible that another small township would be started on that side of the river, and that would be disastrous to Whakatane.

Mr Barry said that although it might mean a longer distance for some ’county residents this would be offset by the shorter distance to town after crossing the bridge. Near a Rail Head Mr Armstrong agreed with the Mayor and said that one reason he was supporting the mill site was because it would bring the town within 1£ miles of a rail head. It was possible that the Government might at some future date, take over the mill railway as it was built to the standard guage. i “Personally I cannot see anything against it,” he added. A bridge at the mill would mean a direct route to the proposed new aerodrome and that was something that had to be borne in mind, Cr Warren pointed out. Following the recommendation .of the Council delegates other councillors agreed to the suggestion and it was decided to support any move to have the new traffic bridge built at the Board Mills.