Saving a Beach

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1055, 20 August 1930, Page 10

Saving a Beach

ALTERNATIVE ROAD PLAN Route Past Kohimarama ALTHOUGH the City Council is determined to waste no time in proceeding with construction of the Waterfront Road at Kohimarama, there is now a prospect that the beach will be saved and the road carried farther inshore.

Following deputations and protests against the original scheme to continue the road from Mission Bay across the sands to link with the completed portion at St. Heliers Bay, the City Council visited the scene this morning to see what effect the road would have on the beach and to investigate an alternative plan. The original scheme prepared by the City Engineer, Air. J. Tyler, and adopted by the Works Committee of the council,‘ was to take the road across the beach for a distance of 900 feet and a width of 6G feet at the top surface with a spreading toe making a total of about 76 feet. Alarmed at the prospect of spoliation of the beach, residents asked the council to stay action, which was agreed to. Today’s visit was the outcome. It was suggested as an alternative that the road should be taken round behind properties fronting the beach and that ceftain land should be acquired.

Reporting to a special meeting of the council held this morning before the visit, the engineer pointed out that the proposed diversion would involve four sharp angles within a distance of a quarter of a mile, which would he a departure from fundamental principles in highway planning and a dangerous link in the Waterfront Road.

Mr. Tyler expressed the opinion that even if the road were taken across the sand as he originally proposed, the beach would make up again. This was happening near the new road at Gower’s Point. TAKING OF PROPERTY

1 “I am strongly of the opinion that there is really only one alternative to the original proposal, but this will necessitate tho acquisition of the beach properties and planning the road on a portion of them, and 1 have prepared a plan and estimate for this scheme,” said Mr. Tyler. ‘T think that the alternative plan will enhance the aesthetic value and general alignment of the new foreshore,” he added.

The alternative route proposes to traverse all properties fronting the beach. The plan is to acquire portions of these in order to keep the road off the best part of the beach.

In a word, by setting back the road, ; 76 additional feet ol' beach would be ; preserved. Whereas the total cost of the alterna- j live plan runs into £23,609 (basing cost of property acquisition at Government value, or allowing owners 30 per cent, more than the Government’s figure, £24,-464) the original scheme was estimated to cost £18,839. j Estimates on the alternative are: Capital cost of construction, £12,290 (of which £5,290 would be received as a Government subsidy) : cost of land facing the beach at Government valuation, £14,665; portion of other lots, £2,031; interest at 7 per cent, for three years, £3,465; reselling charges, survey and legal, £1,056; less resales, £9,680, total, £23,609. The cost to the council would be therefore £18,319. when the subsidy of £5,290 was allowed for. Mr. Tyler anticipates that 30 per cent, may have to be added. About 50 persons—property owners, representatives of the local ratepayers’ association, and former members of the old Tamaki Road Board, met the council on the beach and discussed the alternative. Before the council went to the locality, Cr. G. W. Hutchison and Cr. J. B. Patterson each presented petitions, the former handing in about ! 900 names, and Mr. Paterson 250, appealing for preservation of the beach. COMMITTEE OF OWNERS Mr. J. U. Hubber, a member of the old Tamaki Road Board, suggested that a committee representing the property-holders concerned should confer immediately on the question of letting the council have their land, or arranging some compromise. The deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. J. Entrii can, pointed out the importance of a 1 speedy decision, for the council wished : to begin work as soon as finality could ! be achieved. Mr. George Campbell, of St. Heliers Bay, paid tribute to what the council had done for the district since it took over. “We have every confidence in the City Council,” he said. On returning to the Town Hall the council agreed to defer the question for three weeks in order that property owners might confer and make an offer if they thought fit. The City Engineer and the chairman of the Works j Committee, Mr. J. Dempsey, will meet I the residents in the meantime, to i assist them in questions of the amount of property which will require to be I taken.