WEST COAST PROJECTS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25138, 20 March 1947, Page 8

WEST COAST PROJECTS

Mr Semple Outlines Regional Plans

DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES

Mining, forest, agricultural, and road and railway developments on the West Coast in the next 10 years were discussed by the Minister of Works 'Mr R. Semple) when he addressed a meeting at Greymouth yesterday on the re gional development plans for the West land and Buller regions. Mr Semple said that in the Buller coalfields, the Government proposed to install an aerial ropeway at Stockton to take coal to the bins, to recondition the Burke's creek col iery, and to open two new blocks in the Garvey’s creek mine. In the Grey valley a new seam was to be opened at the Liverpool mine, the Mount Davey field was to pe proved and developed, the Tyneside mine was to be “dewatered,” and the Dobson and Strongman collieries were to be improved. Experiments in the blending and briquetting of slack coal from mines in the Buller region and the lignite deposits of Charleston would be made. A processing plant would be erected later. The State Forest Service planned the development of an area between Reefton and Totara Flat, with some extraction of timber from the indigenous beech forests and the planting of exotic trees in open spaces. At Lake lanthe, the wild rimu forest was to be brought under silviculture. These were only the immediate plans, and there were many hundreds of square miles of natural forests plans for the development of which would have to be made in the near future. Land clearing by machinery had proved successful, and it was proposed to continue this work as machines became available. Several areas in the Karamea and Inangahua areas were listed immediate attention. Erosion ot valuable rarm lands was a problem on the West Coast, said Mr Semple. Complete control of the rivers was not economic, and the works planned were largely protective measures to combat erosion threats as they occurred. Private Enterprise The Minister said the spirit of enterprise characterised many West Coast residents, instances beJng the privatelyowned and co-operative mines. He referred to the proposed production of lime for the development of pakahi lands and the possibility of cffnent production in the Cape Foulwind district. All the ingredients were available near Cape Foulwind, and the site was already served by a branch railway. The Government would give consideration to any proposal for using coal resources for this purpose. The list of railway proposals included three new construction projects: the extension of the south line to Wataroa, a line from Westport to Charleston, and the completion of the line between Inangahua and Glenhope on the Nelson system. These proposals were to be investigated further. Mr Semple said the principal new road project was the completion of the road from the Paringa river to - Haast Pass. This would open the southern part of the Westland County and would provide a road link with Otago. Another major proposal was the road from Arawata to the Hollyford valley by way of Cascade and Big Bay. These roads would be important links between , the scenic resorts of South Westland and those of Otago and Southland. Improvements were proposed for the harbours of Greymouth and Westport, but detailed plans could not be announced until the report of British engineers had been received and considered. Other harbours. particularly Okarito and Bruce Bay. ■would provide valuable outlets for the timber of South Westland if they were suitably improved, and attention would be given to them. The Government intended to investigate the provision of an aerial tramway to give tourists easy access to the snowfields at the head of the Franz Josef glacier.