MARINE PARK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 94, 22 April 1931, Page 3

MARINE PARK.

PROPOSAX. FOR MILFORD. SUGGESTED RELIEF WORK. Proposals for the construction of a marine park in the Wairau estuary, Milford, as a relief work, have been placed before the Unemployment Board. Plans are in the hands of Mr. J. D. Bodle, assistant engineer of the Takapuna Borough Council. Captain J. A. Algie, chairman of the parks committee, is a supporter of the scheme. It is asserted that the construction of a park would give employment to 150 men for five or six months. An argument for the proposal is that the park would be a permanent asset, whereas much of the relief work so far undertaken has not that merit. The scheme forwarded to the board has been considered for a year, and was only decided on after other projects had been fully discussed. The principal argument against earlier proposals vras that they provided for tidal gates at the Wairau estuary. Plans adopted entail the construction of a long wall within the basin to ensure an even sweep of the tide, where an easy flow of the water is now prevented by banks of silt. This would mean a greater "scour" in the estuary, which would be deepened by two feet. Pleasure craft would have access to the basin for five hours more than at present. In addition, a pool of sheltered water 1000 ft long would be available for aquatic sports. The scheme has been advocated by the Milford Residents and Ratepayers' Association. The estimated cost is set clown at £3000, and a donation of £1000 from a private source has been promised. The promoters contend that the work of constructing the park would involve a. negligible charge on the public, and that it would soon be discounted by the revenue earned.