BIG RECLAMATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 15

BIG RECLAMATION

AT HUTT RIVER MOUTH

ONE THIRD OF IT FINISHED

RAPID PROGRESS

Motorists who pass over the Hutt Pipe Bridge may notice the increasing area of lahd that is being reclaimed at tile HUtt fever mouth, biit from tlie bridge it is not possible to gain a true idea of the magnitude of the' work. Actually, ii million yards of spoil Was the quantity _df filling estimated for the 93 acrest The work Was Commenced about twelve months ago, and was planned to last three years. A third of it has been completed, and it is possible that it may be finished within eighteen months.

The area of 32 acres that has been filled in includes the hardest portion of the work, for where there is now solid land was formerly part of the river channel with a depth of 15 feet. The wall bounding the river is twothirds completed, and it has been solidly constructed with a three-foot depth of rock at the face. Heavy lorries proceed along the top of the wall and help to consolidate it. It is not proposed to build an equally solid wall along the southern portion of the reclamations, for there is a possibility of extensions, but the wall will be'sufficiently strong for protective purposes.

The northern drag-line slack-line mast has been shifted twice, : and tfre southern one once. A depth of 40 feet in the river bed is hot exceeded for dredging, and 30 feet is the usual level. A successful experiment in sluicing has been carried out at the southern mast. A Diesel pump has been installed, and the play of water on the big mound.of silt has the effect of washing it down into the surrounding area that has to be filled.

Two small "speedier" drag-lines have been used for dredging purposes, and they have been invaluable in the demolition of a large sand-spit. They are also used for filling the trucks. Another machine that is extremely useful is a "bulldozer," which pushes the spoil, by means of a large metal blade, or. shield, into the section being reclaimed. SPEEDIER METHODS PLANNED. Speedier methods to complete the work are being planned. There are three locomotives on the reclamation, and about five miles of railway track, in addition to the rough roads for the fleet of lorries, but it is likely that a railway track will be laid over the southern end of Seaview Road and spoil will be loaded direct into the railway trucks at the large quarry near the intersection of Gracefield and Seaview Roads. A steam shovel will probably be installed to facilitate the loading of the trucks. Lorries, however, will still be needed for the carrying of spoil, and it will not be necessary to dispense with any of the 130 men engaged on the reclamation, as there will be so much more work to be done in spreading the spoil in the shorter time. The Gracefield quarry is proving very successful, and the area of land made available as the hillside is cut away should be valuable. A proposal to divert ■ the entrance of the Waiwhetu Stream is also being considered. There are no means of diverting the stream to prevent it from flowing through the reclamation, but it is considered that if a cut were made near the bridge over Seaview Road the stream could be taken in a straight line through the reclamation and the entrance would be north of the present mouth. At present the stream flows through the reclamatloh at such ah angle that it would be difficult to sUb^ divide part of the area, The Public Works Department has discussed the proposal With the Hutt River Board's engineer, but the scheme has not come before the board for decision. If present plans mature it should be possible to finish the work within eighteen months. Only three feet of filling is required over the section that was formerly SCabey Island, and when the railway lin§ is put through to the quarry it will facilitate- "the rapid filling in iof the portion near Seaview Road.' POSSIBLE EXTENSION. On the western (or Petbne) side of the Hutt River mouth there is an area of from 50 to 65 acres that could be reclaimed. The land is. in the possession of the River Board, but so far its reclamation had Hot been seriously considered; : The River Board could come to an arrangement with the Departmeht to do the work, Or it could erect Weirs.and groynes to facilitate the silting up .of the area, although the latter process would be slow. The Wellington Harbour Board has an area of about 50 acres between the present reclamation and Point Howard that could be reclaimed. If this large shallow bay were reclaimed the iand would be valuable. However, the Harbour Board, and not the Public Works Department, has to make the decision in this -matter*