OCEAN BEACH DOMAIN

Evening Star, Issue 22349, 27 May 1936, Page 2

OCEAN BEACH DOMAIN

BOARD’S ANNUAL REPORT The following report on the operations of the Dunedin Ocean Beach Domain Board for the year ended March 31 will be submitted by the chairman, Mr John Wilson, at the annual meeting to-morrow afternoon: — RELIEF WORKS. A good deal of useful work was again accomplished by means of relief labour during the year. The main operations comprised the extension of the sea walling at St. Clair, and the construction . of the hockey grounds near Moreau street, ESPLANADE EXTENSION. At the close of the year operations in connection with the Esplanade extension were drawing to a close, and the completed job was expected to be out of hand early in the new year. ’There can be no doubt but that the walling constitutes a noted improvement to the soa front at St. Clair, and greatly enhances the amenities of the whole area. From the public point of view the approach to the beach has been rendered much more convenient and comfortable, and the frontage to and access from the corporation playground and surf bathing pavilion have likewise been considerably improved. The work was originally authorised by the board on October 20, 1932, at an estimated cost of £B6O, exclusive of all labour and supervision charges, and operations were actually commenced in February, 1933. Relief labour was employed almost exclusively on the job, and it can be claimed, therefore, that in this particular case the men were engaged in a useful work which has produced an asset of permanent value to the community. The work would have been beyond the resources of the board if relief labour had not been available. By the time the work is completed the board will have provided out of its own funds approximately £1,260, the whole of which was expended on materials, tools, cartage, and other sundry items required in the construction of the sea wall, plus the formation of the adjoining roadway, the construction of a substantial retaining wall which it was found necessary to erect on the landward side towards the end of the eastern section, and the construction of extensions to the concrete steps opposite the bathing pavilion. The bulk of the work was carried out under the personal supervision of ,the board’s foreman (Mr L. Wraight), to whom the board is indebted for the successful carrying on and completion of the operations. The board is also indebted to the Otago Harbour Board for the loan, without charge, of its pile-driving plant, and to the City Council, through the city engineer, for assistance from time to time during the progress of the work. ST. CLAIR HOCKEY GROUND. The construction of. the St. Clair hockey ground bv relief labour was continued during tlie year. The portion of the grouna already levelled was sown down in the spring, and a further area is being prepared for filling. The cost of filling material for these works constitutes more or less of a difficulty, and assistance in this connection from those who will use the ground would be welcome. ' ST. KILDA-ST. CLAIR PATHWAY. This work, which was also a relief labour opeiMtion, was completed during the year. Through access, which was

disturbed by the construction of the playing areas at St. Clair, has now therefore been restored. RECREATION GROUNDS. Considerable maintenance attention was given to the various playgrounds on the Domain. In particular No. 1 ground, at Hancock Park, was refilled and levelled with 600yds of clay and top-dressing soil, and sown down in the spring at a cost to the board of £IOO. There is now a good sole of grass ou the ground, and it is in good order for Rugby. The ladies’ hockey ground and the St. Clair football ground were also given necessary’ attention, and were in good playing order during the year. LAWN TENNIS COURTS. In view of the close proximity of the refuse tip to the St. Kilda lawn tennis courts it was found necessary to carry out some work on the eastern end of the tip with a view to improving the general appearance of the face. A scrub fence was also erected to form a screen. PLANTATIONS. The board was again able to secure 3,030 Finns muricata from the State Forestry Department at nominal cost, and these were planted out in the eastern end of the domain. Existing plantations received attention, and firebreaks were cut where necessary. The Ngaio Grove at St. Kilda has now 100 well-established young trees, which have every appearance of doing well. ST. KILDA ENTRANCE. Tho rockeries and flower plots at tho St. Kilda entrance were given necessary attention during the year, and tho display of flowers was quite satisfactory considering the conditions. Additional flower beds wore formed and planted out in the spring. BEACHES AND SANDHILLS. A considerable amount of maintenance work in connection with the beaches and sandhills was called for during tho year. Unfortunately, one of the periodical denudations of sand from the St. Clair Beach occurred, and the beach has remained consistently low. Scrub groynes were erected’ with the object of checking the erosion, and unless conditions improve it would appear that considerable attention will need to be given to this section of the beach early in the incoming year. Tho danger with a low beach is the simultaneous formation of “ cuts ” which run across the beach, and if allowed to reach the toe of the sandhills threaten the latter with desti action by eroding the sand at the base. The area is being watched carefully and, as far ns possible, measures will be taken to safeguard the dunes against the possibility of damage. It is 1 passible that tho question of renewing tho groynes may require to be gone into if conditions on the bench do not ’inp/ov-}. GENERAL MAINTENANCE. Maintenance work on the sand dunes generally has increased during the year. The fore dune continues to increase in height and therefore becomes more liable to “ gapping ” by the wind. The bare areas thus formed must bo planted with marram, otherwise they increase in area and the trouble from wind-blown sand recommences. A great deal of this replanting was done during the current year, and its scope is increasing yearly. The regular maintenance work of forming and clearing paths, repairing fences, clearing sand, grass cutting, etc., also, received attention by the regular staff. The low state of the beach necessitated the lengthening of the concrete steps leading down from the Esplanade extension, and this work proved to be ot some magnitude. Scrub shelter fences were also erected on the beach at St. Clair for the convenience of the public.

It is perhaps not out 'of place to point out that the domain is assuming more each year the character of a park, and as time goes ou the process of transforming the sand dunes into recreation areas and plantations will inevitably involve the board in increased costs ,for maintenance. During the past few years maintenance costs have risen steadily; One, of course, to the extension of the playgrounds and other permanent improvements, all of which must now receive regular attention if they are to bo preserved in good shape. RECOMMENDATIONS. The following recommendations for the incoming year are submitted:— (a) Completion of Esplanade—asphalting surface, painting fence, and fixing seats. (b) Completion of hockey grounds. (c) Extension of wall on Victoria street to Moreau street and planting the area enclosed. FINANCE. The board commenced the year with funds totalling £930 Os' (id. comprising credit bank balance of £382 14s Id, and Rost Office Savings Rank deposit £547 9s sd. Receipts totalled £3,253 (is 2d, comprising levies £1.257 IGs lod, interest■ £l3 5s Id, refunds U.B. No. 5 'wages £1,621 14s 3d, tip charges £260, sale of sand £46 3s, rent £3B 10s, and sundries £ls 17s. Expenditure totalled £3,762 11s lOd, comprising materials £573 15s, wages of regular staff £1,358 3s, U.B. No. 5 wages £1,614 3s Gd l , cartage £9,1 12s 6d, trees and seeds £35 6s Id. and other sundry items totalling £B9 11s 9d. The cash balance to commence the new year is £420 17s lOd, representing credit bank balance £l6O 14s 6d, and balance at the Post Office Savings Bank £260 3s 4d.