FUTURE SUMMER RESORT ?

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 18 September 1934, Page 4

FUTURE SUMMER RESORT ?

Three Lakes Near Hawera May be Developed CONSIDERATION BY COUNCIL CROWN TO BE APPROACHED There is a strong possibility that in the near future the three picturesque stretches of water south of Hawera, within two miles of the borough boundary and known to many old residents as Robertson’s Lakes, will he vested in the Hawera Borough Council for development and made accessible to the jnjblic. The largest lake covers an area of approximately 22 acres, the second largest 134 acres and the smallest one and a-lialf acres. At present all three are accessible only by the courtesy and permission of Mr V. W. Nowell, owner of the property which completely surrounds them. Nowell Road, from Manawapou Road, reaches within four and a-half chains of the largest lake and within six chains of the second largest body of'water. ‘‘For some time past we have been looking into the question of the ownership of these beautiful sheets of water so close to the town,” said the Mayor of Hawera (Mr J. E. Campbell) at last night’s monthly meeting of the Haj wera Borough Council. ‘‘We have been advised by the Commissioner of Crown Lands at New Plymouth that all three lakes are dedicated as Crown reserves. The lakes would be a very valuable asset to the town and it is hoped in the near future to see control vested in this council so that they can be developed and made even more beautiful by the planting of trees.” The difficulty at present was the lack of proper access, continued Mr Campbell. Nowell Road was dedicated and formed to within four and a-half chains of the largest lake and within six chains of the second lake and access from the end of the road was through Mr Nowell’s private property. While Mr Nowell was anxious to see the lakes thrown open for the benefit of the public, he was concerned at the prospect of danger to his property "unless th.e road could be continued right to the water front and the whole reserve properly enclosed. Mr Campbell said that in recent years the level of the lakes had fallen, leaving a beach half a chain wide aTI round. This had grassed, but in one place there was a clean, sandy beach, making the spot an ideal summer resort for bathing, fishing, picnicking or boating. There was ample scope for development, and it remained for the council to have the control of the area vested in it by the Crown for the preliminary work in that connection to he undertaken. He thought that the council should not lose sight of the possibilities of the lakes as a popular summer resort. So far as he was concerned, the matter -would not be allowed to drop. Cr. E. K. Cameron agreed that the reserve would indeed be a valuable asset. No resolution was passed, the Mayor giving an assurance that steps would be taken to ascertain the views of the Commissioner of Crown Lands.