ANTI-EROSION MEASURES.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1922, Page 4

ANTI-EROSION MEASURES.

The report presented to the New Plymouth Borough Council by its engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) on Monday deals with the question of erosion at the East End Reserve chiefly from the point of view of the least expenditure. The engineer, with good reason, considers that the present state of the borough’s finances will not permit of a sea wall, and although he proposes the construction of four or five groynes, that will undoubtedly be of much service if built on the right, plan, the sea wall can still be taken in hand when a fitting opportunity arrives. The main objects to be considered are protection of the sea front and the property thereon, together with doing all that is possible to make the reserve attractive and provide the utmost space there for recreative and pleasure purposes. The engineer has rightly emphasised . that “something should be done as quickly as possible to protect the frontage before the coming winter storms make further inroads” and it would seem there are certain features of the business that should be kept in view, one of which is that whatever scheme is decided upon shall not be of a temporary, but of an enduring nature, so that the best value may be obtained from the expenditure. It has to be remembered that when the harbor improvements are completed, there is every probability that the stretch of sea beach from the Henui to the Waiwakaiho will in all probability be the main beach area and sea bathing frontage available for the public, so that it would he a wise policy to ensure that it can be utilised by an ever-increasing number of residents and visitors. This id an additional reason why the plan that must now be adopted should fit in with future permanent improvements, particularly a sea wail. The success of groynes for protective purposes depends, firstly, on the direction they take from the shore out to sea, and, secondly, on the suitability of their construction. Unless expert advice on these matters is followed it is fairly certain that much good money will be wasted, so that it would be folly to attempt too much. Better by far to make haste slowly and surely, than to waste money in show, at the sacrifice of solidity and endurance; better to use hardwood than local blue-gum if the latter is likely to decay rapidly. Probably these and other important considerations will occur to members of the conference. This foreshore will be such a great asset to the town and its people in the future that exceptional care should be taken to ensure that what is done now is on the right lines.