ST. CLAIR BEACH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18198, 19 March 1921, Page 15

ST. CLAIR BEACH

DANGER OF SEA ENCROACHMENTS. TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE WORK. A meeting of the Ocean Beach Domain Board was held yesterday afternoon, and was attended by Messrs J. H. Hancock (chairman), J. B. Shaddock. I. Green, J. Wilson, and J. W. Dove. The following report with regard to the St. Clair Beacii was submitted by the city engineer:— “ Mr Campbell (District Engineer, Public Works Department), with the city engineer, visited the St. Clair Beach yesterday, March 17, 1921, at 3.15 p.m., just after low water. The several stages of the lowering of the boarding of the groynes were noted as marked on the piles b’’ the bolt holes w'here the planks were held from time to time at sand level on groyne No. 3. Mr Campbell suggested that the gap between the lowest board and the present level might ho made up with stone. To the suggestion that has been frequently made that the foot of the sandhill be protected with stone, he suggests that such protection, if extended from die end of the present stone work, which is about 200 ft from the end of the esplanade, to third groyne, about 800 ft further on, s’ in'd not do any harm, as the rebound of the surf from the stone work will not be ni »;e harmful than the same rebound from the steep face of the sandhill, as it stands at present. On the groyne question, it was agreed that it would not be well to drive any more piles under present condit’ons. The removal of the sand from the sea bottom seawards of low water has brought deep water so close inshore along the whole beach that groyne work is almost certain to be either by the washing away of the sand into which the piles are driven, or by the breaking of the piles by the violence of the waves.. Nine piles were thus broken during the recent storm. The stumps of these can now be seen at low water standing about three feet out of the sand bottom". When broken by the waves they no doubt failed about sand level. It is recommended that the foot of the sandhill be faced with stone to a width of about 12ft and a height of about 6ft as far as the third groyne. The width of 12ft will enable vehicles to move along it to deposit material as the work advances. This work will be attacked by the waves in stormy weather, and the stones will sink into the sand. The danger of this has never been so great in the past as it is at present, as the deep water has never before been so close inshore. The cost of the protection suggested along the foot of the sandhill and under the groyne _ boards will be about as under; —2500 cubic yards at 10s, £1250. As the encroachment of the sea at St. Clair is becoming more serious every day, and is a dominion question, I suggest that: (1) The Surveyor-general be asked to make a careful coast survey from Lawyer’s Head to Blackhead, noting depths and currents and wave motions and character of bottom for a mile from the shore. (2) That with this information in hand, the advice of the best possible coast erosion expert should be obtained. It appears from my study of the subject that a spidy beach at St. Clair can only be maintained by running out into the coastal current with a structure that will break this current and hold the sand that it so quickly removes.” Mr Green asked if the district engineer had taken any exception to the way the work had been carried out, to which Mr M'Curdle replied in the negative. Mr Wilson asked if the district engineer was going to recommend the payment of a portion of the money involved, to which Mr M'Curdie answered that the district engineer had not said he would recommend that. He (Mr M‘Ourdie) had not asked him. He thought they (Government) might agree to expend the balance in stone work. Mr Johnston (secretary to the board) remarked that there was only £250 left to come up to the originally estimated cost. The Chairman: We can only go a very little distance because we have practically no funds until -we make a fresh levy. Mr Green said they had a conjoint report i before them, and if they thought it advisable they could approach the Government and place the question before it in the form submitted to them, and ask for assistance towards the work. If Government approved of it. They wanted to get definite information from Government as to whether it would approve of the proposal, and whether it would give them any assistance. They could go on spending the balance of the money as suggested, but they wanted to show that further means were absolutely necessary for the protection of the baaoh. His opinion was that stone was the simplest and most inexpensive method of carrying out the work. Mr Shacklock suggested that if they could put stone between the groynes it would do. Mr Dove: Yes, between the piles, and make it a mole. Continuing, ne said a groyne should be erected in the direction of the current if the cost was practicable. At present the groynes were no earthly use at all. They knew the current ran from south to north. The Chairman: It is a question of finance. We have £337 to-day. That is everything we have, and there are accounts to pay amounting to £261, which leaves us £76. It was pointed out. at this stage, that there was a balance due from Government and a levy from St. Kilda Borough to come in, the two amounting to about £2OO available. The Chairman remarked that the sand had built up at the present time, and had risen about 2ft or 3ft. but, he added, they could not say how Tong that would last. It went back very quickly. Mr Green said the question was, Did they approve of the report, and were they to approach the Government in the matter. Mr . Shacklock: And you are committed to get the opinion of an erosion expert? Mr M'Curdie (engineer): It is a dominion matter. The Chairman: Quite right. Mr Shaddock said he thought all they could do was to protect the toe of the sandhills with scrub or something else, and approach the Government, and, also get the advice of an engineer outside the advice thev already had. The Chairman remarked that they could not see more than £250 before them. Mr Shacklock: The Government should be asked to do the lot. He moved that the engineer be instructed to carry out sufficient temporary work at the foot of the sandhills, at the least possible cost. The Engineer: You could not reasonably protect them with stone, but you could with scrub. It would be destroyed with the first violent storm. Stone and scrub about would make a first class layer. Mr Wilson: How would crates filled with stone do? The Engineer: That would be an effective work. Mr Shacklock: A great deal is said about the Flat being flooded. I think the Flat is safer than it ever was. It was ultimately agreed that the engineer be instructed to forthwith proceed with temporary protective work at the foot of the sandhills, where properties were affected, at a cost not exceeding £600; contributing bodies to be notified, and the secretary to write to Government in terms of the engineer’s report.