MONCK'S BAY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18367, 28 April 1925, Page 10

MONCK'S BAY.

AN UNDEVELOPED ASSET. In what manner can Monck's Bay be improved ? is a question that is being canvassed at present. This is an area of about 70 acres enclosed by the Sumner tramway embankment; at lowtide it is an unbeatiful mud bank. One half of the area is under the control of the Sumner Borough Council, and the other half is under the Heathcote County Council. Mr H. Hobday told a reporter a day or two- ago that he had been thinking' out a scheme to make the area a playing ground.. One idea was to dredge out a portion of the area to •provide a permanent lake, in connexion with which there might be provided d water chute. The dredging spoil could be used to 'help to reclaim a portion _of the area oil which tennis courts and playing grounds for other sports could bs provided. Mr Holiday remarked that these were tentative suggestions only intended to draw out from others any ideas they might have on the subject. The reclamation of the area and its use iu the ma&uer suggested should be of interest to the Tramway Board, as traffic would be induced if the area was made attractive. He understood that a long lease of the area would be obtained probably at a nominal rental. From Mr K. B. Owen the reporter learned thatt the River Conservancy Committee considered that the estuary constitutes a valuable city asset, and it was a great mistake to allow it to lie dormant. It had been suggested, in reanect of the Monck's Bay are<\, 'that a marine lake should be formed by allowing sufficient water to remain in it at' sufficient depth for rowing boats and small sailing boats. This would provide another breathing space and would prove a big attraction. The suggestion. was that a sill shcula be placed under the Opening in the embankment , through, which. th*i ( water flows in and out according to the state of the- tide, to hold.the water to a certain level at low water and to permit of it being renewed at high tide. Beautiful reflections of sunsets were to be seen on this area at high water; at low water it was an unsightly stretch of mud. Referring to the indiscriminate manner in which the refus6 from the stone quarry is at present being dumped at the Redcliffs end of the area, Mr Owen remarked that if this refuse was deposited along the outer edge of the roadway a very fine promenade would be made, which, as the years passed, might be continued from the Heathcote bridge to Sumner.