THE ST. CLAIR BEACH

Evening Star, Issue 17637, 16 April 1921, Page 5

THE ST. CLAIR BEACH

ENGINEER’S REPORT ON WORK. PROBLEM GROWING GRAVER. At yesterday’s meeting of the Ocean Beach Domain Board a report was received from the city engineer on the protective works at St. Clair Beach. He stated than the groyne work had been finished, and the stone protective work along the frontage of Mr J. McDonald's and Dr Dickie’s properties constructed. The £SOO authorised for this work had been expended, so that it also would draw to a close. Three and a-half chains had been built, at a cost of about £l4O a chain. The change in depth oft' shore bringing deep water closer was still going on. Old clay and rock bottom was showing at the Second Beach, and old hardish eand out in front of the Esplanade. Stones out in front of the Esplanade were sinking, as was noted bv tlie increasing spaces under the_ groyne bonds. Solid groynes well out into the littoral current would tend to reduce this denudation nr a heavy breakwater out from the baths, but the cost would be so heavy that it should not be undertaken without expert adv.ee from some coastal erosion specialist, as suggested in bis last report. The problem would become graver every day as the deepening of the water oft' shore went on, causing the rollers to break with increasing vioLncc along highwatr.r mark. A change in the outside conditions might come .that would bring the cand back to its old shape, but much damage might bo done in the meantime. He suggested that a quarry should be opened up at the Second Beach, so that st nc might be obtained more cheaply. The iTpmT was adopted, and the question of opening up a quarry at the Second Beach was referred to the Works Committee of the City Cou.nci, (or a rep'C

The Minister of Public Works win!. ) vt he had carefully noted toe board’s ; tesentat’ons as to the p s tion at St. Clair, and would give the matter his early con uideration.

In referring to the proposal that a deep-water survey should be made from Lawyer’s Head to Black Hoad, the Sur-veyor-General wrote that this would involve a large expenditure, and that it would he advisable to allow whatever coast erosion expert 'was consulted to state what details ho would require. When he was advised of this, he would be phased to recommend the survey to the Government for favorable consideration. A NEW SYSTEM SUGGESTED.

Mr E. Anscombe wrote suggesting that the Dutch “ Zinkstnk ’’ system ol protection should be tried at St. Clair. A zir.kstuk is a mattress of willow made with pockets along the top to bold the sCnes with which the mattress is sunk and covered. The niattiess is towed over the site where it is to b. sunk, and there filled with large stoic-. Several mattresses can be filled and son's one above the other until the beach is built up to the desired level. They are usually sunk about low-water line. Aho writer offered the services't.i an engineer, who had seen the svstem at walk in the Far East. — The manor was leia-red to the engineer for investigation.