EROSION AT SI. CLAIR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18188, 8 March 1921, Page 4

EROSION AT SI. CLAIR

VALUE OF WAI4, PROTECTION. RESIDENTS SEEK' EXTENSIONS A large deputation, consisting of resident* of St. Clair and St. Kiida, waited upon tbs St. Kiida Council last night to urge the appointment of a deputation to wait upon the City Council and Domain Board end impress the necessity of raising funds end proceeding immediately with an extension of the e tone wall placed last winter along the foot lof the sandhills to prevent erosion. A storm last week made further inroads _ upon the sand, and residents in - the vicinity ars again seriously concerned at the outlook. Mr J. M'Donald explained* that the deputation was present in conformity with a resolution passed at a meeting held at St. Clair on Saturday night The> residents of St. Clair and the St Clair end of St -Kiida were most anxious that something should be immediately done in order to - save what was left of sandhills. As -a result of the experience of last week it -seemed that the only safe course to take now was to continue the rubble wall. Ho pointed out that the wall has ' proved quite effective, the inroad last week commencing where the wall ceased, the wall itself being a quite effective barrier. The speaker submitted reports on the question of the sandhills and the Flat submitted years ago by Mr 6. M. Barr and Mr Mirams. It would . be seen, he said that at high water on the beach the harbour was three feet lower. He did not need to stress how serious would be the position should the sea-break through. The level of the Flat at St. Clair, where the Presbyterian Church was built, was 2ft Sin below high-water mark. Nelson street (South Dunedin) was 3ft below, Forbury Park was 2ft Bin below, Council street (St. Kiida) a little over 3ft below, High street (Queen’s drive) 3ft below. The supreme necessity of doing something was obvious. . Dr Dickie, the next speaker, said that' Mr M‘Donald had covered most of the ground. He wanted, however, to stress in particular the value that the wall of loose stones had proved in stopping ‘the erosion. He had watched the sea and in a letter to the council, summarised the matter as it appeared to , him. This letter pointed out that the encroachment began just at the point where the barricade of large loose stones came to an end and continued along the face of the sandhills for about 300 yards, right up to the third groyne. He was not an expert on erosion ni tiers, but it certainly looked as if the loose stones were the most effective protection they had had up to the present time. He drew attention ) to the attrition of the sandhills as the result of the constant stream of traffic where the path (now demolished) used to run. He considered that the attrition had done nearly as much damage to the sandhills this summer as the sea had done last winter; it had been responsible for a larger fall of sand than had been the storm of last winter. Mr H. W. Trotman, secretary of the St.Clair and St. Kiida Citizens’ League, outlined many of the schemes thtt had been proposed, and submitted a post-card of a beach at Home showing the effect of a seawall, flanked by groynes. Ho pointed out that the groynes at St. Clair in their present condition were not according to plan, not having the planking 2ft 6in or oft above the sand as designed. Cr Dove, speaking as the council’s representative on the Domain Board, pointed out that no fault lay at the door of the board or of the city engineer. They were merely handicapped by the lack of finance. Instead of having plenty of limber to use it had been necessary to use the planking to carry out the derrick. He complained of the shocking apathy ~Sf the-public in regard not only to the matter/of St. Ciair, but to civic matters generally. The speaker advocated the proper completion of the groynes and the carrying of the protective wall further along the sandhills. The Mayor (Mr A. D. Edgar) moved that the council appoint a deputation at once to wait on the City Council and Domain Board as proposed. The motion was, seconded by Or Beddon. who said that a few hundred pounds would / serve to carry on the wall for temporary protection till such time as something oh a bigger scale could be taken in hand. Councillors unanimously supported _ the motion, and the following were appointed the deputation:—Th n Mayor (Mr Edgar), Crs Dove. Hall, and Seddon.