Plans To Improve W. Coast Harbours

Northern Advocate, 30 November 1948, Page 6

Plans To Improve W. Coast Harbours

WELLINGTON, Tue. (P. A.).—Finality has now been reached on the policy for the improvement of the harbours at Wesport and Greymouth said the Minister of Marine (Mr Hackett) today. He said the cabinet, after considering the reports of English and New Zealand engineers, who examined these harbours, had agreed on improvements to be carried out. AH the engineers’ reports indicated that it was not practicable to establish one- deep sea port on the West Coast to serve all purposes. The recommendations for both Greymcuth and Westport agreed on were:— (1) Dredging of the tidal compartments.

(2) Narrowing of the entrances by vertical piling inside the moles. (3) Definitely no extension to the existing breakwaters in the meantime.

Work considered of primary importance at ■ Westport is dredging ot the tidal compartments to 3lt below low water in order to improve the scour on the bar. NEW DREDGE When this dredging ol tidal compartments is completed—and plans are being made for a new dredge to continue dredging the bar —vertical piling inside the existing entrance wall be undertaken. At Greymouth a vertical wall will be built on the south side of the entrance for a length of 225 ft within the present entrance. Cabinet has already approved a vote of £33,000 for this work. Other improvements will include realignment of the channel of the river above Cobden Bridge to give bettei flood conditions from that point seaward. Mr Hackett said he hoped the improvements now agreed on would give the coastal fleet ingess and egress at all times to these ports.