Dredging urged at Westport

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33680, 1 November 1974, Page 12

Dredging urged at Westport

(From Our Own Reporter) WESTPORT, October 31.

The Government will be pressed to take measures to meet the deterioration of the Port of Westport through silting of the bar.

A deputation from the Westport Harbour Advisory Board wil urge this course when it meets the Minister of Transport (Sir Basil Arthur) in Wellington next week.

The Minister of Mines (Mr Colman) will also be present at the meeting, and should be able to help the case for dredging. His department is paying about $l6 a ton in freight for coal shipped in the Karetu and is committed to meeting the full rate, whether the vessel is shortloaded or not.

It is felt that it would pay the Mines Department tp press for dredging of the ports because the costs in dredge hire could be balanced against the losses incurred in penalty freight-rates for short loading. .

Unless the deputation can convince the Minister that the big dredge Geopotes V is needed to work on the harbour bar, coal and cement shipments from Westport will be seriously impeded. A large “paddock” of sand about 2000 yards from the entrance is causing the trouble. Formed in 1971, when a big flood in the Buller River pushed out sand between the breakwaters and left 40ft of water, the outer bar has consolidated, and successive freshes in the river have not been strong enough to cause an improvement. It is clear that the bar is so far out that the river, even when in flood, has no effect on it. In fact, recent floods have caused greater problems, even fishing vessels are bumping on the bar at low water.

There is only Bft 6in of water at low tide, causing the Tainui to be short-loaded by 200 tonnes on Wednesday when she took 1683 tons of coal to Portland. The Karetu recently left with only 1500 tonnes, being normally capable of a cargo of 3500 tonnes. The Westport deputation will comprise Messrs W, A. Craddock, G. Wilson, and W. R. Andrews.