ROADWAY THROUGH BUSH

Evening Star, Issue 24116, 10 February 1942, Page 4

ROADWAY THROUGH BUSH

ENGINEER'S GOOD CASE AMENITIES SOCIETY IMPRESSED At a meeting of the Dunedin Amenities Society held yesterday a letter was received! from Mr P. L, Moore asking for the society’s co-operation in opposing the proposed roadway through the School Creek Reserve and other bush surrounding the Ross Creek Reservoir. . The chairman, Mr Crosby Morris, said that Mr Moore had been in touch with him, and he had promised that the society would consider the question fully, Mr C. O. McKellar said that he had been through the bush in question, and he considered that Mr Moore’s protest was justified. Mr John Wilson said! that the city engineer stated that the track was_ a necessity if adequate access to _ important water pipes was to be given. A sewer would also have to be taken across the route referred to, and this involved proper access. The matter would come before the Works Committee of the council in the near future, but as far as he could see the city engineer had a good case for the traek.Mr J. Scott Thomson said that at their request the city engineer had conducted three members of the Amenities Society’s committee over the route of the suggested track. The city engineer had made out a very strong case for proper access to vital - points in war time, and, although he (Mr Thomson) was particularly keen on the preservation of native bush, he was bound to admit that he was much impressed with the arguments advanced by Mr Scoular. Mr Scoular was prepared to allow two members of the Amenities Committee to watch the construction, of the track to ensure that the route avoided any fine specimens of native trees, and in Ins (Mr opinion this was as much as the society could expect. Actually the track would not go through any first-class bush, but would traverse manuka scrub, panax, etc. Mr A. O. Cameron, who had also accompanied the city engineer, on the trip referred to, said there appeared to be several reasons for the proposed track. Quick access to vital stop-cocks would result in easier control and a saving in the number of men required for supervision, and there would be easy access for the repair of the main dam and access _ for the proposed sewer from Wakan to the Woodhaugh Valley. There were several other important considerations which could not be made public. Actually,' in his (Mr Cameron’s)' opinion the track, if constructed under supervision as promised, and provided the scrub and trees cut down were carted away, as suggested, should prove a great boon to many people, particularly elderly pedestrians, who at present were prevented through the absence of a proper track from visiting this locality. He understood that the grade of the track would not exceed one in eleven. Mr George Simpson said that he understood that the track when constructed! would open up many areas suitable for picnic grounds. He felt that the society had more to gain by co-operation than opposition to what, after all, was largely a war-time measure. He was opposed to any unnecessary cutting of bush on our reserves, but this was a different matter. The Chairman said that he was very pleased to note the mayor’s assurance that the society would bo consulted before anything was done. It was unanimously agreed that Messrs J. S. Thomson, George Simpson, and A. O. Cameron be appointed a subcommittee to confer with the City Corporation and city engineer to ensure that the route of the track (if decided upon) should be such as to cause i s little damage to trees as possible. It was agreed that Mr Moore be thanked for his letter and acquainted with the society’s decision.