HARBOUR WORKS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22654, 3 June 1948, Page 3

HARBOUR WORKS

WEST COAST PLANS

IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSED

Improvement works for tne Gieymouth and Westport harbours arc recommended in the report of the West Coast Harbours Committee, consisting of Messrs. W. L. Newnham, chairman. F. W. Furkert, and J. Wood, released by the Minister of Marine, Mr. Hackctt. The estimated cost at Greymoulh is £750,000. The figure for Westport is not given. ‘‘Although we have recommended certain works which we consider should bo carried out as conditions allow, we think many delays at these two ports can be obviated by the use of suitably designed shallow draught vessels, such as those the Union Company at present has on order,” states the report. The committee’s principal recommendations for Greymouth include the construction of a vertical wall of 225 ft. along the south side of the harbour entrance and parallel with the south mole, and extended a further 225 ft. up the river if necessary; and if further navigational improvement is required a similar vertical wall should be constructed on the north _side to give a clear waterway of 450 ft. along the south side of the 3ft. below water level and progressive dredging of the Cobden lagoon on the north side upstream; the adoption of gantry dredging; the ultimate incorporation of the floating basin on the south side as recommended by Rer.del, Palmer and Tritton, consulting engineers London, and ensuring better flow conditions above the Cobden bridge. Work at Westport Dredging of the tidal compartments in Westport harbour to 3ft. below low water the committee considers to be of primary importance, as well as continued dredging of the bar and the provision of a new dredge. The committee recommends that an engineer be sent abroad to study dredges and dredging methods. Gantry dredging is not recommended as it is not suited to Westport conditions, nor does the committee recommend extensions of the moles. Narrowing of the entrance, it states, would improve bar depths, but should be delayed until dredging of the tidal compartment is completed. Any narrowing should be done by means of vertical walls constructed inside the present entrance. Regarding the merchandise wharf, it is recommended that only the minimum of dredging be done and that later the wharf be abandoned. The ultimate development plan should include a floating basin at the east lagoon and the construction of a new mercandise wharf, together with investigations into the Tauranga Point master groyne proposal, which is the subject of attached comment by Mr. Furkert and which is designed to trap drifts.