BEACH EROSION

Evening Star, Issue 23353, 24 August 1939, Page 10

BEACH EROSION

ANXIETY NOT ALLAYED PROPOSAL OF ST. KILDA COUNCIL ENDORSED Despite the assurances given by the chairman of the Domain Board, a number of St. Clair residents are still seriously alarmed by the erosion of the sandhills, and are of the opinion that further action should) be taken before more southerlies aggravate the position. Interviewed this morning, aj sea-front resident of many years’ standing stated that the vast amount of sand which had been eaten away from the_ sandhills, destroying Nature’s resistance to the sea, was little short of appalling. He was of the opinion that the gravity of the situation nad not been over-esti-mated in any way. While giving the chairman of the Domain Board (Mr J. Wilson)_ every credit for the good work which had been carried out for years past, he pointed out that this, for the most part, consisted of planting marram grass and building scrub fences for the protection of the beach itself. To-day there was not a vestige of those fences to be seen. The planting of shrubs and trees and the extension of the esplanade had also been of great benefit, the latter work especially proving its usefulness in the last few months. A development of the erosion was evidenced in the way in which the sandhills had disappeared at the back of the St. Clair Tennis Club’s property, where a steep bank had been left. The emergency work carried out by the .Domain Board, consisting of sandbagging, stone walls, _ and brush fences, was excellent, but it could only be regarded as temporary protection. Something very much more solid was needed to resist the great power of the sea. He considered that the time was ripe for a marine engineer to be con-, suited, with a view to obtaining Government assistance.

The meeting which Cr W. D. Anderson had proposed was an excellent idea, and besides the three bodies concerned l , he considered also that the St.'Clair Tennis Club, Croquet Club, School Committee, Beach Improvement Association, and the Forbury Park Trotting Club, all bodies intimately concerned l , should be asked to send representatives. Perhaps the member for tho district, the Hon. F. Jones, could be asked to use his influence in promoting any scheme arrived at by the combined’ committee.