SEA EROSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1922, Page 4

SEA EROSION.

POSITION AT THE EAST END. PROTECTIVE MEASURES DISCUSSED. WALL SCHEME DROPPED. The proposal to erect a wall along the front of thfr East End reserve to protec* the land from erosion by the sea was the subject of a report and estimates presented to last night’s meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Counbil by the engineer (Mr. W. Ii- Cook). He stated, inter alia: “The estimated cost per lineal foot will vary from £24 to £3O, provided the foundation is reached within from 8 to 10 feet below thp levels. The last heavy storm scoured to a depth of five feet; hence it is not considered safe to erect any part of the wall, other than at the river, to a less depth than eight feet, with added depth along the sea frontage. The back of the wall will require filling in, and will average from £5 to £lO per lineal foot. The difficulty will be to find sufficient material for such’* filling, and it is suggested to level over Mt. Byron for this purpose, cutting down to give the amount of material necessary. By this means the reserve would make a splendid playground for nearby residents. “The above costs will run into approximately £2OOO to £2500 per chain, which, I am convinced, will not be very much from the actual. That something should be done as quickly as possible is certain, as next winter storms will seriously jeopardise the buildings, and I submit the following proposals should / it be decided a wall is beyond the finances. For temporary safeguard, commencing to the westward of the bandstand and ending at the river, for the time being it is proposed to renew the breastwork by driving piles and securing to these heavy runners to which the backing runners would be attached. The breast so formed would be backed by suitablo filling material. This would, if erected in lasting timber, serve for some years, and in the meantime the larger scheme of walling could be gone into thoroughly, as, in my opinion it is useless to embark upon such a work with so small an amount of money as appears available. From the breastwork four or five groins would be erected to form sand traps, and as this accumulates the groins could with advantage be pushed out to sea. “From careful observations during the last eighteen months I feel certain had the original proposals made by Messrs. Blair Mason and Lee been carried into effect a large area would have been reclaimed, and the breastwork would not have suffered the damage it has. From time to time thousands of yards of sand are lodged against the present frontage, which, for want of groins to retain it, js swept out to sea again by either the flooded river or a northerly blow. The trial groin proved that this means of sea defence was upon right lines, and only needed stronger timbers to give good results. Preferably unsawn timber should be used for piles if of bluegum, or, if ironbark is used, these might be of either unsawn or sawn., “I have been so impressed with th< possibilities of making up the frontage by( groin work that I have no hesitation in advising the council to give this every consideration before incurring the expense of a wall only a few feet from the front of the pavilion.” “Evidently the matter of a wall is out of the question said the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) when the report came to be discussed. He said the question was whether the council intended doing anything at this site or anj’where along the sea front.

Cr. J. Kibby asked if there was anv estimate as to the cost of groins. The Mayor replied that they were really a progressive cost, as they were not put out the full length at first. He believed this method might be adopted, as if groins were successful at the East End they could be used all along the seafront.. Hitherto, however, they had not been a success. It was decided to send a copy of the report to the East End Committee, and to invite them to send a deputation to discuss the matter with the council newt Monday night.