RECLAMATION OF 4000 ACRES

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31976, 1 May 1969, Page 10

RECLAMATION OF 4000 ACRES

Sunjiy Nelson lacks perhaps only one thing—enough flat land to allow the city to expand conveniently to its full potential.

Nature has largely taken care of even this problem for Nelson.. There is a huge area of land in a good position which is ripe for reclaiming from the sea.

The employment of this land will also have the effect of checking the spread of urban development in more distant and valuable farming and orchard.land at Stoke, which lies to the south-west of the city. Nelson Haven lies between a natural boulder

bank and the hills of Wakapuaka and consists of some 4000 acres of sheltered water at M high fide. The present port is at the southwest end of the Haven; and about 120 acresof land has already been reclaimed for port development The new scheme: envisages a reclaimed area of 1750 acres of land with channels, dredged to a depth of Oft below low water spring tides, running right through the area. The full range of tide will be allowed to act over these waterways, and they will always be full of water. It is proposed to do the work with sumion dredges, extending it over a minimum period of 35 years.

Complete details have not yet been worked out but it is considered that the total cost will be of the orderof $24,000,000 and this can be recovered from the sale of sections. The area will allow Nelson's present population of 27,000 to double; and, in fact, population projections show this possible by the year 2000. Included in the scheme is provision for industrial land, additional wharf space and a new swinging basin, shopping areas, schools, other civic amenities, residential areas, and marina type residential development The whole emphasis win be on the water aspect of

the area, combined with up-to-date town planning. The. scheme has been discussed by the three local bodies concerned and also at a public meeting in Nel-

ion and at various other meetings. It has been enthusiastically received by the public The Road shown on the landward side of the scheme will ba a motorway with limited access. Interchanges will be provided at convenient places along, this motorway and they will, in most Cases, be of split level design. The first area to be reclaimed will be a residential area of about 140 acres opposite Dodsons Valley. This area will also contain provision for commercial land which in the initial stages will be utilised as "oJToi the charms of the

scneme is that very large borrowing to finance it will not be required, because the sale of sections from reclamation can proceed as reclamation is achieved.

The minimum final height of the fill will be 4ft above high water springs. : The total quantity of the fill will be 28m cubic yards; and the height of the fill necessary will vary from 6ft to Mft