FORMATION AND SEALING OF OHOPE ROADS UNDER FIRE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 21, 14 April 1950, Page 4

FORMATION AND SEALING OF OHOPE ROADS UNDER FIRE

“We have information from our County Member, that it is the intention of those responsible, that in the event of tar-sealing the Ohope roads, that the access road would be the first part of the road to be tar-sealed,” writes Mr H. Mahy, senior, of Ohope, a member of the Ohope Progress League in a letter to the Editor of the Beacon. ‘We wish to point out the disadvantages to be met,” the letter continues, “such as, that all maintenance (grading, carting metal for the replacement of crossings and erosion on the beach side of the road at the western end of the beach), would need to travel over five or more miles of tar-sealed road, before starting to grade the beach road, etc. , “When it comes time to form and tar-seal the beach road, all heavy metal, gear etc. would need to do likewise.

Strongest Reason “We think the strongest reason of all is that the beach road badly wants sealing first, being such a closely built-up area. The dust nuisance is bad from a health point of view, while there is a danger from traffic, and depreciation to dwellings all along each side of the road, whereas on the access road there are few houses. “It is not the residents of Ohope who have complained,” Mr Mahy continues, “though they are the ones most vitally concerned, but hundreds of visitors and campers, who have pointed out the terrible dust, and public opinion asks, why the ones responsible do not do something about’ it. “It had been stated recently that the Whakatane district is the Cinderella area of New Zealand as far as road work is concerned. If that is so, then Ohope must be the Cinderella of cinderellas, as far as the roads and other work is concerned, by the Whakatane County Council,” the writer contends.

Most Traffic Mr Mahy states that he is convinced that during the Christmas and New Year period the Ohope road carries more traffic than any other road in the County. There are over 150 houses taking in both sides of the road, from the hostel to the east end of the beach.

During the Christmas and New Year holidays there are at least 300 tents and caravans adjacent to the road. He found that the main remarks of visitors and campers were against the dust nuisance.