EROSION AT THE BEACH

Evening Star, Issue 23351, 22 August 1939, Page 5

EROSION AT THE BEACH

GOVERNMENT CO-OPERATION SOUGHT DECISION OF ST. HILDA COUNCIL The serious nature of the erosion caused by the recent heavy seas to the sandhills at the beach was emphasised bv several speakers at the fortnightly meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council last night. After the damage had been described and the possible future dangers stressed, it was resolved that a meeting be called of representatives of the Ocean Beach Domain Board, the City Council, and the borough council for the purpose of discussing the matter and placing the position before the Government.

The matter was introduced by Cr N. D. Anderson, who said he had been approached by two residents of Victoria road and asked to place it before the council, as the position was very serious. The path had been taken completely away, and if something was not done before long the position would be verv serious indeed. St. Kilda had a very vital responsibility in the matter, as there were some ratepayers living on the sandhills, and there might be a danger of their property being washed away. The city was also concerned, as it derived considerable revenue from people going to and from the beaches ■ during the summer, while both the city and the St. Kilda Borough were contributing bodies to the Ocean Beach Domain Board. But the fact remained, that if action was not taken and some effort made to protect- the foreshore, which was being badly undermined, there would be serious trouble. A bight between Mr Barton’s residence and the St. Clair tennis courts had become very pronounced as a result of the recent heavy seas which had been rolling in. The speaker did not expect that Sic Domain Board itself was in a position to deal with the matter, but he made the suggestion that representatives of the borough and the City Council and the Domain Board should meet to discuss the position with a view to placing it before the Government. Similar trouble had been experienced at various places, notably at Oamaru. The speaker was supported by Cr E. Longworth, who said that lie had been following the Press correspondence for some time, and what he had expected had occurred. As a result of previous representations to the Government the engineer had advised that groynes be placed in position. This had been done,' and the beach had been saved. However,, the St. Clair Life Saving Club, which was a really fine body and doing good work, had asked for the removal of two lines of groynes, as they were considered to bo a danger, there being a possibility of the' lifelines becoming fouled in them. The speaker had opposed the application, as there would probably be a scour which would spoil the beach. The objection was overridden and the groynes were removed, and this he maintained had been the cause of the trouble. Cr Anderson was on the right lines when he suggested that an effort be made to obtain the services of the Government engineer. The mayor (Mr J. J, Marlow): Before the Domain Board removed the groynes it consulted the Marine Department, which was in agreement. _ Agreement was expressed by Cr U H. Johnson, who pointed out that some of, their ratepayers were endangered, and there blight be- loss of'lifc if some steps were not taken to combat the menace. . It was decided on the motion of Or Anderson that the Domain Board he asked to convene a meeting of representatives of the three bodies concerned as early as possible for the purpose of discussing the matter. Ors Anderson and Longworth were appointed the council’s representatives to the meeting.