MARINE DRIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20023, 23 August 1939, Page 4

MARINE DRIVE

PORTION IN BOROUGH SANCTION GRANTED COUNCIL'S DECISION GREAT ACQUISITION Approval to construct a section of the proposed marine drive was given was given by the Gisborne Borough Council last night, the portion under review being from Salisbury road to Stanley road. Difficulties of the remaining borough portion between Roberts road and Grey street were pointed out by the borough engineer, Mr. E. R. Thomas, who submitted a review of ihe proposal.

The cost of a roadway from Salisbury roafl to Stanley road was estimated by Mr. Thomas at £426, and a.Mhough councillors pointed out that no provision had been made on the estimates for the work, it was agreed that sufficient money might be diverted from other works, which might have to be held in abeyance.

“I tllink this is a good opportunity ito start on a very valuable and necessary work,” said (the Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., who referred to the wonderful service being given by the Thirty-Thousand Club to the matter. The work would be a great asset to the borough. Cr. R. Morse said that the drive would make the present, waate land at the Stanley road end very valuable.

The engineer suggested that ithe adjoining land might be cut up into building sites.

Coming- of Railway

The Mayor pointed out that the railway would be compleited very shortly, and everything should be done to make the town attractive. Napier people were doing all in their power to beautify their town.

Cr. H. H. De Costa: But they have public-spirited men there.

The Mayor: And we have publicspirited men here, too. The engineers report was submitted following instructions previously given by the council.

"Between Roberts road and Grey street," Mr. Thomas stated, "a number of existing fences are in places up to 25ft. back from the title boundaries of ithe properties, a position which means that the construction ot a roadway along this section must be outside these undefined boundaries and which results in the location ot the road in such a position as to necessitate a.t least 1260 ft. of protection wall to prevent erosion during high tides., "It is also found that the concrete wall on the sea frontage of the gaol property is approximately 25ft. back from the (title boundary. As the width of available space fronting this section is limited, authority should be obtained from the Government to occupy this unused strip of property, for without it a length of protection wall must; be placed to prevent the washing away of road formation.

Ownership of Accretion

“Doubt also exists as to the ownership of accretion which lias taken place since 1900 and on which mo.ut of the roadway must be located. The commissioner of Crown lands states that this accretion may either belong to the Crown or to the Gisborne Borough Council, and although anticipating no difficulties suggests that approval! be (obtained through Jhis department before undertaking construction work. This measure is considered advisable to protect the counciL from undertaking work on property which may belong to the Crown.

“Details of any proposed scheme should be submitted to the Gisborne Harbour Board as access through or fronting its beacon reserve must be provided for to link up with a dedicated street and also for the reason that should the length between Grey street and Roberts road be ever put in hand, the location may encroach below the Gisborne Harbour Board’s boundary, which is high water mark and which may be an altering boundary. “Attention is drawn also to a restriction placed on the strip of land owned by the Mayor, councillors and burgesses of the Borough oin Gisborne, and which fronds all properties between Grey street and the western boundary of section 104, excepting that land owned by the Gisborne Harbour Board and used as a beacon, reserve, the boundary ol which reaches high water mark.

“Any construction work carried out must toe undertaken without obstructing the visibility or interfering with access to private properties and which, ( should say, limits any scheme of planting, and even this only with the consent of the owners of property fronting this strip of land. Roadway of 66ft. “As further investigations will have to toe carried out before submitting a detailed estimate for the construction of the length of roadway and- protection wall from Grey street to west of Roberts road, the scheme submitted for your consideration provides for the construction of a GG.Ci. width roadway fi'om the western end of 'Salisbury road through section No. 103 and connecting u,p 'with Stanley road. “Although nothing definite can be obtained from those interested in the scheme, it is assumed from wluit they state that no difficulty will toe encountered in obtaining access through section No. 103., "Of the suggested 66ft. width of roadway, provision is made for a 36ft. width carriageway, 'which is sufficient to provide space for parking adjacent to footpaths and two lanes of moving traffic, a footpath 12ft. in width on the sea side and one 10ft. in width adjoining private property, and an Bft. strip for planting on the sea side of the carriageway completes the 66ft. cross-sectional 'width. “To construct a roadway on sandhills such as in this locality is most difficult, and unless undertaken on sound lines will result in wasted work and materials. “The Greatest Difficulty” “As soon as the existing surface is interfered iwith the control of 'windblown sand presents the greatest difficulty, and it is only toy covering exposed sand surfaces with selected covering material that sand drifts can be prevented from eliminating, if not

the wtoole, parts of -any completed work.

“To transport covering necessities i ststole track for lorries, and it is recommended that rubble from Gaddum's pit at the top of deLautouv road be used for establishing an 18ft. strip for cartage of covering and for use toy the public after formation work is completed.

“In connection 'with covering of sand surfaces, street cleanings as suggested will not prove satisfactory, for in many streets in the borough the light nature of the soil would result in covering with material little better than (beach sand. Selected street cleanings and spoil from excavation work now in hand on Kaiti Hill road is suggested as most suitable. Cost of Rond

“It is estimated that to complete the 39 chains (between. Salisbury road and Stanley road, up to 30 No. 13 scheme workers can (be employed for approximately six months, and the estimated cost to the council would be £426.

“I understand that the Thirty 'Thousand Clu-b and the Beautifying Association 'have purchased and placed at the council's disposal a motor lorry, 'and the above estimate has been based on using this lorry for cartage of covering, the council supplying petrol and oil. “On occasions ill may be possible to use some of the council’s lorries in connection, with this work, tout this can only toe relied upon for short periods and, therefore, has not (been taken into consideration when considering the number of ‘No. 13 scheme workers that can toe carried.

“In connection with rubble supplies, it was intended to create a depot of this material in, the borough yard during this year, and should the council desire the construction of this drive to proceed, I suggest that this material toe used.”