NGAHAURANGA GORGE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 242, 9 July 1938, Page 10

NGAHAURANGA GORGE

Proposal To Form An Alternative Route

MAKARA COUNCIL’S VIEWS

The possibility of forming a new main highway over the Wakefield Gully, Newlands and Paparangi roads into Glenside iu place of the present Ngahauranga Gorge route was discussed at the monthly meeting of the Makara County Council, held at Wellington yesterday. The chairman, Cr. E. Windley (Belmont Riding), presided. . Referring to the projected closing of the Ngahauranga Gorge, Cr. R. G. Mexted (Tawa Riding), said the traffic using the by-roads would be greatly Increased if the gorge were closed. Expenditure on these roads would be trebled. The county should receive a subsidy from the Highways Board for road maintenance if the gorge road were closed and the 'by-roads used. If the gorge road were closed the Wakefield Gully Road, which was not open for traffic at present, would have to be opened, particularly for the benefit of residents, of Newlands. There would be no need to open this road if Ngahauranga Gorge were not closed to traffic. Cr. Windley said tliat little notice had 'been taken of the possibility of forming alternative routes. The Wakefield Gully Road would have to be opeifed up again if it were to be used extensively iu the event of closing Ngahauranga Gorge to traffic, while improvements were carried out on it. He did not know what the expenditure on it would be, but was of the opinion that Ngahauranga Gorge should be kept as it was. He moved that an investigation be held into the possibility of forming a new main highway over the Wakefield Gully Road down through the Newlands and Paparangi roads into Glenside. It would certainly be a less dangerous route, he said. The motion was carried. Wakefield Gully Slip.

The foreman, Mr. J, Martin, reported that during the month the Wakefield Gully Road had been completely closed by a slip of several thousand yards, and he estimated that it would cost about £l5O to open it up again.