OAKLEY CREEK CULVERT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20990, 29 September 1931, Page 11

OAKLEY CREEK CULVERT

DEADLOCK STILL EXISTS.

TRANSPORT BOARD BLAMED,

ATTITUDE OF MOUNT ALBERT.

The opinion that the Auckland Transport Board was solely to blame for the deadlock in connection with the reconstruction of the New North Road at Oakley Creek, which is necessary for the extension of the tram tracks to Avondale, was expressed by members at a special meeting of the Mount Albert Borough Council last evening. The work at Oakley Creek lias been suspended by the council since June. It was decided to advise the board that the matter rested with it. A report reviewing the negotiations by the council with the board and the local bodies concerned was presented by the Mayor, Mr. W. F. Stilwell. The report stated that when the present council came into office in May last the widening of the road was in progress, and tenders were being invited for the lengthening of the culvert at Oakley Creek. The council was faced with the question who was to pay for the works, which were estimated to cost £3072, and whether the present culvert was adequate. The council in September asked the City Council and the Transport Board to bear a share of the cost of a new culvert, but the board declined. The City Council agreed to contribute 22.8 per cent, of the cost of lengthening tho existing culvert. Eventually the new council decided to suspend the work and to return the tenders submitted for the culvert. At a conference of the local bodie6 affected in July the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board's engineer was asked to prepare an allocation of costs for tho proposed new culvert. Subject to a Transport Board contribution Mpunt Albert accepted its allocation; the City Council differed, but was now understood to agree; and Mount Roskill declined. Later negotiations with the Transport Board by the council failed, the board having been asked to provide a sum sufficient to meet Mount Roskill's suggested contribution. The council's solicitors had advised that, as the culvert was incidental to the widening of the road, a commission to allocate coinpulsorily the costs involved could bo appointed. The report concluded that if tho board contributed to alterations to the Avondale overhead railway bridge it should also contribute to the Oakley Creek work. The report was adopted. Mr. W. Fulton said Mount Albert was not responsible for the stalemate but the blamo lay witli the Transport Board. It was scandalous that tho board would asassist the City Council with the alterations to tho Avondale bridge and neglect Mount Albert. It exposed the inconsistency of the board'. Mr. V. Coylc said it was desirable that tho honour of tho Mount Albert Council should be vindicated and any suggestion dispelled that the new council had broken faith. The council decided to forward a copy of the report to tho board and to mako arrangements for its case to be brought before the board.