Big Reclamation Scheme For Onerahi-Waikaraka

Northern Advocate, 26 November 1948, Page 4

Big Reclamation Scheme For Onerahi-Waikaraka

AN ambitious, but not impracticable, scheme for the development of the extensive tidal flats between Onerahi and Waikaraka, embracing the provision of a motor camp, sports grounds, building sites, boat harbour and the realignment of the road to Tamaterau, has been formulated by an Onerahi resident, Mr L. F. Fromont. While its implementation would require many years, there are aspects of the proposals which could be put into effect without much delay. They would provide immediate benefit to Onerahi residents and to yachtsmen.

Mr Fromont outlined his scheme in an interview at Whangarei yesterday. Originally produced as a war memorial scheme, the plan first envisaged the straightening of the Parua Bay Road from the main Onerahi highway to the Waikaraka Road, continuing in a wide sweep across the mud flats to join the existing road about 20 chains on the far side of the Waikaraka Stream. It was proposed to build a stone wall from close to Steven’s Point at Onerahi, across the mud flats near the mangrove line, to join the embankment of the proposed road about quarter of a mile from the Waikaraka Stream. By this means 85 acres of land would be reclaimed. The area would be divided into three sections, the first of which would provide a 25-acre motor camp close to Onerahi. SPORTS GROUND A sports ground of 30 acres,, through which the new road would run, was planned for the second area, while the balance of 30 acres at the Waikaraka end would be available for building sites. Mr Fromont pointed out that a considerable part of the 85 acres would require little reclamation, as 25 acres were only covered with water at high spring tides and were free from water at neap tides. He thought if they were built up by 2ft 6in. of spoil no more filling would be needed. The boat harbour would be located at the western end of the reclamation, close to Onerahi and sheltered by the high ground in the vicinity of Steven’s Point. BOAT HARBOUR Provision would be made for a total area of about eight acres for this purpose, but the work could be undertaken on a much smaller area at first, and then developed as required. Mr Fromont stated that the boat harbour would be surrounded on three sides by a stone wall. It would have a protected entrance, facing south. The basin and its approaches would be dredged to accommodate keelers, and it was anticipated that periodical maintenance dredging would be necessary. With the provision for a new and shorter road from Whangarei to Onerahi, it was considered that such an amenity as a boat harbour at Onerahi would be welcomed by local yachtsmen who could use it at all stages of the tide. It had been suggested by Mr E. L. Whimp that use could possibly be made of the extensive bank some chains off shore from the proposed reclamation. If tests proved the bank to be firm enough, it could be built up slightly so that it would protect the entrance to the boat harbour, which might be liable to silt up as a result of continual south-westerly winds. DREDGED CHANNEL At the same time the raising of this bank would confine the waters between it and the shore to a defined channel, which would provide the ebb and flow necessary to keep the boat harbour entrance relatively free from silt.

It was considered that spoil for filling the reclaimable area could be obtained from the channel to be dredged between the stone embankment and the bank some chains further out. A good amount of spoil could also be obtained by dredging the boat harbour. Mr Fromont observed that the boat harbour scheme could be commenced at any time, quite independently of the remainder of the project. Immediate use would be made of such a facility by yachtsmen and launch owners. Sludge from the basin would start the initial reclamation for the adjacent motor camp area. PWD PROPOSALS Regarding the need for a sports ground and playing area for children, Mr Fromont said that, apart from the present football ground, Onerahi was without adequate playing fields. The football ground had been earmarked as a site for a future school, and need now existed for provision of another playing area. Through the previous engineer to the Whangarei Harbour Board (Mr W. W. Fraser), his plans had been referred to the Public Works Department, which had displayed interest in the proposals. Subsequently, the department had produced a tentative plan on the same lines, but with some modifications and enlargements. The departmental scheme provided for a 50 m.p.h. road down to the lowlying area, then across the tidal flats, enclosing an area of 100 acres, and linking up with the "existing Tamaterau Road about 30 chains below the Waikaraka fridge.

ROAD EMBANKMENT The road embankment would provide about half the necessary stopbank extending from Onerahi to Waikaraka. From the boat harbour to the proposed road, 35 chains of stone wall and stop-bank would be erected. This would enclose a further 35 acres of mudflat between the wall and the road. The realignment of the road from Mr A. Noon’s property at the top of the hill to Mr Gemmell’s property beyond Waikaraka, involved a stretch of 117 chains. LOCAL SUPPORT Speaking of costs, Mr Fromont said that estimates for the whole scheme had been made by Mr Fraser. They were too great when regarded in the light of the scheme as a whole, but it would be feasible, he contended, to raise sufficient money to make a start if sufficient support was forthcoming from the people of the district and from interested organisations. Dredging the boat harbour and pumping the spoil to raise, the surface level of the motor-camp site would cost 1/- per cubic yard. The stone walls of the embankment and the boat harbour could be built at 10/- per cubic yard, while the dredging of the approaches to the basin to a dept of 6ft at low water would cost 1/6 per cubic yard.