A NEW CONEY ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19718, 18 August 1927, Page 10

A NEW CONEY ISLAND.

PROPOSAL IN MELBOURNE. . USE OF SILT AND DEfcRIS. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] SYDNEY. Aug. 11. The creation of a pleasure island on the shallows between the channels on the Williamstown side of Hobson's Bay, Melbourne, is a suggestion that has been put forward by a number of business men. The scheme is to build up the island from the silt and debris pumped by dredges working on harbour and river improvements At present the silt is dumped into the bay. The dredges are supposed to steam nine miles out before dumping, but complaints are being made that in rough weather the debris is thrown into the bay much nearer shore. Anglers report that when fishing in the bay it is becoming more and more common to have old bo: 's entangled in their lines. The dumping oi the silt is a serious matter for the municipalities that fringe the hay side. For if tt is continued over a period of years, the waters of the bay will be contaminated, and in rough weather there is a likelihood of tne mud being stirred up. and swept on to the foreshore. St. Kilda and other places will quickly lose in public favour if there is more mud than sand available at the bathing spots. Business men have suggested that the problem could be solved by using the silt in the formation of an island one mile long by half a mile wide. Then on the new area obtained a pleasure park could be provided, something alt or the style of Coney Island,