"NO INJURY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 19, 24 January 1939, Page 11

"NO INJURY."

OKAHU BAY BEACH. OPINIONS OF ENGINEERS. CONFERENCE WITH MIKIITER The fact that he had been advjsed by every engineer whom he had connull ml that the proposed construction of a boat harbour at Okahu Bay would not injure the beach was announced ye-.ter.lHy afternoon by the Minister of Murine, the Hon. P. Fraser, at a well nll ended conference of parties interested m I lio scheme. Thee engineers, Mr. Fraser revealed hud included the district engineer of I l.c I'ubliu Works Department, Mr. F. S. Dyson, and the Secretary of the Murine Department, Mr. L. B. Campbell. "On completion of the scheme control of nnd protection for bonts will be much easier, while with proper control of the proposed buildings mid of Okahu Beach, 1 enn sec no reasonable objections to the scheme, and recommend that the Harbour Board be given permission to proceed,' stated Mr. Dyson in a report rend l>v the Minister. Bricliy, said Mr. Dyson, the objections seemed to lio flint the bench amenities would lie destroyed, as the proposed w:i\e-brcak, in the form of a line of pile*, together with dredging, would be likely to cause the sand to disappear; that the erection of the wave-break and the various buildings would be likely to become an eyesore; and generally that the scheme would result in spoiling the only sandy beach within walking distance of tlie city. Action of Waves. Mr. Dyson pointed out, however, that the littoral drift along the coast in question was from the eastwards, and sand was deposited on the Oknhu Bench through the piers of the Ornkei wharf. This wharf had been in existence for many years, and its erection had, made no difference to the bench, which appenred to have remained constant. "The proposed wavc-brenk is to be erected about half a mile from the shore, is of open construction, and will in no way destroy the cleansing action of the waves," the engineer said. "As far ns I can see the beach will be just as sandy and just as clean as at present. In fact, it may even be cleaner, as on completion of the scheme the painting, and so on, of boats on the bench will be prohibited." As far ns the view was concerned, the top of the wave-break would be four feet above high spring tide, and consequently about three feet below the level of the Tamaki Drive. There should be no obstruction even from road level. "The proposed reclamation Is over rocky foul ground, and neither the proposed reclamation rior the dredging should cause any interference," Mr. Dyson said. "As far ns buildings are concerned, tl»ese can only lie erected on the reclaimed land, and i»U such buildings will he subject to the by-laws of the City Council. Consequently there should bo no likelihood of an inferior type of building being erected." Arguments very much on the lines of, those which have already been advanced for and against the scheme were put forward agnin for the )>enefit of the Minister at yesterday's conference, which was attended by representatives of the Auckland Harbour Board, the Auckland City Council. Ornkei residents' organisations, and other bodies interested in the p roposal. The deputyMayor, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, presided. Hope for Agreement. Expressing tho view that some progress had been made and that the parties had now a clearer conception of the aspects of tho scheme, Mr. Fraser suggested at tho conclusion of the conference that they should get together again and endeavour to reach an agreement. If thero were any possible alternatives that could still be explored the necessary investigations could be arranged. "I don't want to be in the position of saving to anybody; 'You must and yon must do that,'" the Minister said. "I would sooner see people agree among themselves, to avoid the possible heartburnings that any decision might otherwise cause." Mr. Fraser added that although the opinions he had obtained from engineers agreed that the work would not interfere with the amenities of the beach, he recognised that a contrary feeling might remain among the residents of tho district. That was why he believed the parties should "talk it over" again. Appreciation of the Minister's attendance at ti»e conference we« expressed in a resolution passed by the meeting.