COX'S CREEK SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20727, 21 November 1930, Page 13

COX'S CREEK SCHEME.

BOAT HARBOUR AND PARK.

CITY COUNCIL APPROACHED. SUGGESTED RELIEF WORK. A request that a boat-harbour and recreation ground be formed in Cox's Creek as an unemployment relief work was laid before tho City Council last evening by a deputation of nenrly 30 Grey Lynn residents, who presented a petition bearing over 1000 signatures of ratepayers and residents of the district. The- petition asked that the boat-harbour bo formed by dredging the outer area of tho inlet and the spoil used for reclaiming about 12 acres of tho inner poition for sports purposes. Mr. J. S. Fletcher, M.P. said the deputation did not seek to lay down any definito scheme. It only wished to have the site improved and utilised after years of neglect, in the "ourse of which it had become almost a menaco to health. Critics of the proposal had alleged that an obstaclo was tho need for a large stormwater culvert costing £50,000. The depution would submit that this work w.is a charge upon the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board, and was not part of the scheme at all. Estimates of Cost. Whether tho whole area wore dredged, or only a part, under an alternative proposal, the work would be very suitable for unemployment relief, said Mr. Fletcher. It was proposed that tho Harbour Board be asked to carry out the dredging. If it saw fit, tho board could, under legislation passed last session, contribute tho whole or part of the cost of this out of its own revenuo, provided tho work were for tho relief of unemployment. It would be necessary to build a retaining wall, but the stone could be obtained from the reef near by.

Mr. E. J. Sexton said the estimated cost of dredging and reclaiming 12j acres was £21,000, of which £16,000 would be for labour. The Government subsidy would be £12,000, leaving £9OOO to be found by the council. Capital charges on this expenditure would bo £675 a year. By way of revenue, the council should obtain £440 a year from the letting of boat-moorings at £2 each, and at least £l5O from users of sports grounds, leaving a deficiency of £BS. Rentals of sites for slipways and boatsheds should provide the wages of a caretaker. Plans Already Prepared. Dr. Emma Buckley-Turkington stated that she had found a higher incidonce of sore throats and certain other ailments among children living around Cox's Creek than elsewhere. Conditions there bred both flies and mosquitoes. It was fnost desirable, in the interests of health, that the area should bo improved. The Mayor, Mi;. G. Baildon, said that the city engineer had already prepared plans for the development of the site. It was not possible to give definite estimates because borings had not been made to ascertain the depth of mud in the area proposed to be dredged. Ono point was certain: The Drainage Board refused to accept any responsibility for the sewer and culvert, for which the council woftld have to pay. The council would give the matter every consideration. After the deputation had withdrawn the petition was referred to the Parks and Town-Planning Committees.