RECLAMATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 18 April 1944, Page 4

RECLAMATION

CONTROL OF MUDFLAT AREA

REQUEST BY CITY COUNCIL FAVOURABLE RECEPTION BY HARBOUR BOARD The Nelson Harbour Board la t night favourably considered a proposal by the City Council for the transfer of a portion ol the mudflat between North Road and the Cemetery point, Wakapuaka Road, from the control of the board to the council. The council wrote submitting for the board’s consideration the council’s proposals regarding refuse disposal and reclamation off North Road (north of Weka Street) and staling that the scheme would be greatly enhanced if the council could obtain a portion of mudflat belonging to the Harbour Board and indicated on the accompanying plan. The question was whether the board favoured disposing of any of its endowments, said the chairman, Mr A. Gould. He could not visualise that in the next 50 years the board would want the area for shipping purposes. If further benzine storage tanks were to bw' erected he would support their being erected along the Wakapuaka Road and not at the port. Mr C. T. Naldcr observed that the board should have thought of that years ago. The chairman replied that it hud not been anticipated that the petrol business would develop as it had. Mr Naldcr said that he failed to see what the board could possibly want with the land referred to. The City Council needed a place for the disposal of refuse and it was up to the board, as a local body to assist. He considered the land should be handed over to the council. The chairman advised that the board should meet the council and discuss the matter first. Mr W. B. Griffin pointed out that the board did not represent the same ratepayers as the City Council. Mr A. R. Kingsford said he thought that it had been agreed that the Harbour Board should have as its aim the reclamation of the mudflat as far as the gasworks, with the object of the council extending its reclamation to meet the board’s. He agreed with Mr Nalder that the council should be encouraged and that the reclamation would bc an asset to the city. He understood that the land might be used for building sites and those were very much needed in Nelson. He was pleased with the action of the council in looking ahead in their future development, said Mr J. H. Brunt. The reclamation was for the whole city and district. He thought the board should assist the council in every way possible. It was decided to advise the City Council that the Harbour Board was prepared to meet the council to favourably consider the proposition, in June.