WESTPORT HARBOUR Alternative Scheme Not Well Received

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30535, 2 September 1964, Page 10

WESTPORT HARBOUR Alternative Scheme Not Well Received

(From Our Own Reporter) WESTPORT, September 1. An alternative to the £650,000 harbour development scheme announced by the Government last year, providing for a reduction in expenditure by approximately £300,000, was not well received by members of the Westport Harbour Advisory Committee when suggested by the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) at a special meeting this morning.

The Minister flew to Westport by private aircraft to attend the meeting, accompanied by the Secretary of Marine (Mr G. L. O’Hfdloran), two Ministry of Works engineers, Messrs R. A. Simpson and H. Hume, and the member for Buller (Mr W. E. Rowling).

When the committee disapproved of any move to depart from the original plan, it was decided to defer further consideration to a special meeting to be held as soon as possible.

The Minister agreed that the new proposition had been “sprung on the committee” and that members should discuss it among themselves.

Mr Scott said that, while his previous visit to Westport had been cut short, he had been able to get a clear picture of the harbour and, after further studying reports on its development, he had some reservations concerning the latest big scheme which provided for oxtension of the walls or moles and narrowing of the entrance.

“Now I feel that such a scheme is not in your in-

terests, the Interests of the Government or the taxpayers of this country,” he said. He said there could be many factors in the way of letting tenders for the works as now outlined, with vagaries of the weather most to be considered.

No contractor would appreciate wasting time during spells of bad weather without making some charge on the Government and he did not expect that, on that basis, it would be possible to work the job on a tender. “I am sure that there will be considerable delay if prices of £15,000 to £20,000 more than the estimate are submitted and it would be more beneficial if the work is done on a locally organised basis under the control of the Ministry of Works,” said the Minister. Faster Run Mr Scott said narrowing of the harbour entrance was considered as most important in the move to solve Westport’s harbour problem. A reduced passage would provide for a faster run of water which could scour out the troublesome bar. But he said there would be problems if there was to be an extension of the eastern wall with narrowing and he suggested an alternative proposal to narrow that mole from the inside and square off to the outside end. Instead of calling tenders for such work, the Minister said that it would be better to have it done, by local labour, thus keeping the money in the district. “Such a scheme would not be as costly. It could be completed more quickly and cheaper than the other plan and could have just as beneficial results,” said Mr Scott. “But, if there is trouble over tenders for the major scheme, it might be delayed for some time and I cannot see the Government going as far as £750,000, which might be the extent of some tenders.” He said that the Government had a responsibility to keep the port open and accepted the blame for holding up developments until he was

able to get a closer picture of the harbour. He noted the greatly increased cement tonnage handled at the port so far this year and much higher coal shipments. Mr Simpson said the new scheme would cost about £350,000 and would provide a permanent two feet more water on the bar instead of a temporary four feet as under the first plan. He supported the Minister's view that much time could be lost in facing bad weather and calm conditions would be needed to keep trouble to a minimum. Western Side Mr G. Levestam said that most of the trouble on the bar came from the western side. Captains disliked the narrowness of the Greymouth harbour entrance. He said every engineering report received on the harbour had advocated that the walls be extended.

Mr Rowling asked if the new move was to be regarded as the thin edge of the wedge with expenditure so much reduced. Mr Scott: We have no thought of moving out and letting the port go. If the new scheme fails we can go on with extending the breakwater. Mr J. B. Cotter described the news from the minister as “most un-exciting” and said there was evidence of lack of imagination and Initiative in the new idea. Mr C. F. Schadick (en-gineer-derk to the Buller County Council) questioned the Minister and Mr Simpson on aspects of the alternative scheme which, he said, differed considerably from those of experts called in at various times to report on the harbour. He said that the move to extend activities at the cement works at Cape Foulwind depended on a good port improvement scheme. There had been difficulty in getting cement ships out of Westport on many occasions. Coal Supplies Mr W. Andrews also expressed disappointment. He said it was necessary to maintain a good port to ensure regular supplies of coal to main consumers, such as the Portland cement works and the Chelsea sugar refinery. He expressed surprise when the Minister said that there was no assurance that Portland would not go over to oil, and said it was generally understood in Buller that there was some provisioh by which the northern cement works would continue to use coal for some time to come. Mr Levestam said it was strange to hear another plan after the Cabinet had approved a more comprehensive one. The Westport bar could often be classed as a paddock, he said. The chairman (Mr J. Watson, Mayor of Westport) said that members of the committee were definitely in favour of extension of the walls. The Minister: I came here especially to note your reaction to the other idea, and if there is not a reasonable tender for the big job you might have to wait a long time for your harbour improvements. He said that there would be no need for tenders for the new proposal.

Community Centre Loan.— The Lyttelton Borough Council has decided to apply to the Local Auth* orities Loans Board for £4500 for the purchase of the immigration barracks for use as a community hall.