RECLAMATION DEVELOPMENT.

Northern Advocate, 6 August 1924, Page 6

RECLAMATION DEVELOPMENT.

ONERAHI PROPOSAL CONSIDERED

In connection with the offer made to the Whangarei Harbour Board by Mr E. N. Ormiston that he would lease an area at Onerahi on a rental equal to 5 per cent, of the cost of reclaiming such land, Mr W. M. Fraser, engineer to the Board, reported to the meeting yesterday as follows: —

The area in question is a tidal flat comprising about 80 acres and is bounded on one side by the railway. Two small creeks run under t'he railway line, each of which is crossed by a 60-feet bridge. Tt would be practicable to reclaim tlio land by constructing a stopbank and automatic tide-gate immediately above one of the bridges referred to, and making a stop-bank at the upper end of the flat, thereby leaving the second bridge and creek open. The cost of this work would be approximately £050. A cheaper and better method of reclaiming the area, however, would be by the filling in of one of the railway bridges and the discharging ot all fresh water at one end of the reclamation. By this alternative scheme a. saving in cost of about £200 as compared with the former proposal would be effected. It was unlikely, however, that the Railway Department would agree to the latter proposal.

Mr Eraser signified that the day would come when the railway embankment would become a flat road, and a valuable one to Onerahi when the railway was abandoned, and he was of opinion that the reclamation of the are:. l in question could more easily be accomplished then. The report was consequently received. without discussion.