ST. CLAIR BEACH EROSION

Evening Star, Issue 22351, 29 May 1936, Page 13

ST. CLAIR BEACH EROSION

DOMAIN BOARD PERTURBED DISCUSSION AT ANNUAL MEETING While acknowledging its concern with the serious consequences attendant on the continuous erosion of the St. Clair Beach, and recognising that remedial measures were needed to alleviate the trouble, yesterday’s annua! meeting of the Ocean Beach Domain Board decided that the work was not within its compass, though, if the position became worse, a report could be obtained by the board. One member favoured the building of a breakwater, extending from the St. Clair baths, hut this scheme was ruled impracticable by the meeting, which decided to leave the question in abeyance in Ihe meantime., pending a reply from the PostmasterGeneral (Hon. F. Jones), who was in communication with the Minister of Public Works.

Present at the meeting, which was held in the Town Hall, were the chairman (Mr John Wilson), and Messrs W. A. Scott, W. J. Lovell, F. Wilkinson, J. J. Marlow, and J. L. M'lndoe. “ The board is treating the symptoms Instead of getting to the prime cause of the trouble,” said Mr MTndoe in introducing the discussion. He said he had been bathing at the beach since ho was a boy, and had not seen the sand at such a low level as it was to-day. He had absolutely no faith in the groins as a means of preventing the erosion, and asked whether it would not be desirable to obtain a report to alleviate the continuous shifting of the sand. In his opinion the position would never be improved until a breakwater was erected from the baths. He did not know whether it was within the board’s province to carry out a scheme, but he did think it could obtain a report, which would be of considerable assistance, besides serving to bring the problem before the public. While the esplanade was a very fine piece of work, it was serving the purpose of keeping people oft the beach in the immediate vicinity, for fronting it was a mass of unsightly stones. “ These remarks are not a criticism of the board, but are merely made to direct attention to tho line of action which might prevent the trouble,” said Mr M'lndoe. A fortnight ago the position had looked really serious, and in line with the danger that had been created through erosion 15 years ago. The Chairman; The Public Works Department was written to in connection with this matter, and the engineer’s opinion was that the sand’s removal was due to the two rivers to the south not discharging flood waters, which brought the sand up the coast. The speaker added that there was a great deal of truth in that opinion. He was in possession of several authoritative reports, and he very much doubted whether any engineer would advise the building of a breakwater. Mr Wilkinson asked whether its erection would not spread the trouble to St. Kilda.' The chairman stated that tho hoard’s foreman was alive to the danger, and tho board would not lose any opportunity of saving the sandhills if the necessity arose. Mr M’lndoe remarked that in the first place a mistake was made 40 years ago when property-owners were allowed to encroach on to the sandhills. The 'secretary' (Mr 11. A. Johnston) held that before any active measures were taken, it would be necessary to have a complete marine survey made of the currents, as all tho sand came from rivers along the coast. “ It’s the channel outside that is the basis of the trouble,” remarked the chairman, the discussion then lapsing. RELIEF WORKERS DISMISSED. Reporting that the board would have £1,784 to spend during tho year, tho chairman said that when ordinary allocations were covered, the board would not be able to meet tho new scale of payments for relief workers. “ We are not able to incur an overdraft at the bank, and I don’t sec how we will bo able to carry out any new work at all,” be commented. The 20 men engaged by the board, which used to employ 40 men, were all good workers, remarked the secretary. v The meeting agreed to dismiss the men after a month’s notice, but it was decided to approach the City Council and tlie St. Kilda- Council for a grantto enable tho men’s services to be retained. GENERAL. Mr Lovell was welcomed fo the meeting by the chairman, who expressed his hope that the new member’s association with the board would ben an enjoyable one. Mr Wilson was re-elected chairman and Mr Scott hon. treasurer for the ensuing year. LEVY ON LOCAL BODIES. It was decided to make the usual levy of Id in the £1 on the annual rental values in the Dunedin City and St. Kilda- The City Council will be required to pay £1.168, and St. Kilda £9B.

The payment of accounts amounting to £1,910, as disbursed by the treasurer, was approved.