ST. CLAIR BEACH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18234, 2 May 1921, Page 2

ST. CLAIR BEACH

ENGINEERS’ REPORTS. DOMAIN BOARD’S INTENTIONS. The Domain Board held a special meeting on Thursday for the purpose of considering two reports relative to the St. Clair groynes and the general question of taking further steps to prevent the erosion on the beach. The board had before it a report by the city engineer regarding the boarding up of the groynes, and in which he stated, inter alia: “Mr Campbell, district engineer, rings up on the subject of the boarding of the St. Clair groynes. As reported in a previous memo., he suggested then the filling up under the boarding of groyne No. 1 with rock. The space below the boards at the groynes has increased lately by the sinking of the stones under them or an upward movement of the piles in the groyne under the buffeting of recent storms. The making up of the space |with rock or the letting down of the boards is again suggested. I think the two lowest boards should bo let close down without delay in all places where there is an open space under the boarding, the upper of the boards to be left where it is.” A minute was _ also forwarded by Mr M'Curdie embodying the opinion of the district engineer, Public \Vorks Department, who wrote as follows: —“I think the Domain Board should be very strongly advised to put 3ft of stone into each of the three groynes at St. Clair, as we. discussed on the ground. This seems-the easiest way of making them function. Also, the stone protection being placed at the foot of the sandhills is too steep on the sea side, and should be at least one in three, to lessen the danger of scouring the sand away. As it is, it will have the same effect as the esplanade wall. The sea on striking the stone will be thrown into the air, and, falling on the soft sand at the toe, will certainly and quickly scour out the sand and underline the stone work.”

After very full discussion it was decided that, subject to the approval of the Government Public Works Engineer, the board proceed at once with the filling jn of the No. 1 groyne (opposite the end of Forbury road) with stones by day labour. At the same time it was resolved to draw the attention of the City Council to the need for the immediate construction of an apron of stone at the foot of the esplanade wall. Members of the board were of the opinion that the filling in of the groyne with stone was all that was required to make the structure function properly, but it was also hold that the effect of the work would be largely minimised so long as the existing scour from the perpendicular face of the esplanade wall was unchecked. For that reason the board considered that the apron should be completed before the groyne was filled. Anscombe, Smith, and Associates, architects. forwarded a proposal for raising the level of the beach and retaining the sand by means of wickerwork mattresses.