ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AT ATHOL Lively Council Debate

Lake County Mail, Issue 41, 17 March 1948, Page 6

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AT ATHOL Lively Council Debate

In compliance with the request of a previous meeting of the Lake County Council, the engineer, Mr H. A. Vezey, presented estimates for road improvements proposed on the piece of road known as Paddy’s Alley, Athol. At present the road is often covered by flood waters and at one place the engineer suggested that a new road could be made above flood level. In the other he presented an estimate for the cost of raising a length of the road and installing culverts. The total cost of both jobs he estimated to be £2G6 4s. Cr Soper explained the necessity of some form of improvements being done to the road and suggested that a permanent job be done that would not require much maintenance. Cr Aubrey said that he thought that the money could be spent to better advantage on other work in the county and suggested that work of a cheaper nature be undertaken or that if such work was likely to be washed away by flood waters that nothing at all be clone at the moment. Cr Soper took strong objection to Cr Aubrey’s proposals "'and claimed that he was attempting to have the work blocked. Cr Aubrey said that he was only exercising his privilege as a councillor and those were his opinions. There was nothing personal intended. The chairman called the meeting to order and pointed out to Cr Soper that there was no move afoot to block the work as he had sugested, but that the matter was merely being discussed so that the council would arrive at the best solution. Cr Soper accepted the explanation but pressed the point that he wanted to see a job done that would cause no further trouble to the council. A discussion followed which lasted for one hour and a-quarter before a decision was arrived at. The council resolved to proceed with the formation of the new road proposed and that on the other length only limited improvements should be made. Cr Aubrey voted against the proposals.