ROAD TO THE SPIT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23529, 18 June 1938, Page 27

ROAD TO THE SPIT

PROPOSED RECONSTRUCTION ESTIMATED COST OF £13,740 A proposal to reconstruct the Port Chalmers-Aramoana highway a t an estimated cost of £ 13,740 was placed before the monthly meeting of the Waikouaiti County Council yesterday, when the Main Highways Board sought from the council a contribution of £990 towards the cost of the metalling work. The proposed reconstruction, if proceeded with, will result in the formation of a highway 18ft wide from which dangerous bends and corners will be removed and which will be protected by a substantial sea-wall.

The matter was introduced by a letter from the board’s representative on the No. 16 District Highways Council (Mr P. Keller), setting out the proposal. Mr E. F. Evans, of the Public Works Department, was present at the meeting to outline the undertaking. In his letter Mr Keller stated that the proposal outlined on April 30, 1937, was to carry out minor improvements estimated to cost £ 1695, of which the Waikouaiti County Council’s share was £334. The matter had again been considdted by the Main Highways Board, and it was felt that improvements on a much greater scale were warranted, provided funds could be available. The highway was very narrow and extremely tortuous, and the cost of widening and straightening could not be carried out without a considerable amount of seawall construction. When these works were completed the surface of an 18 feet road way would involve a considerable amount of new road metal. If the work were limited to the previously considered estimate of £1695 (the letter continued) the only improvement really effected would be a better running surface on the existing road, which improvement would not render the highway any safer for traffic. If, however, the major scheme could be carried out, a permanent improvement in the standard throughout the whole highway . would result. The estimated cost under the full scheme was £13,740. The board realised, of course, that it could not face anything like this expenditure under normal conditions, but would feel justified in giving a substantial contribution if the Waikouaiti Council could contribute its share of the metal only. This metalling would cost £3960, and on the ordinary basis of £3 for £ 1 subsidy the council’s share would amount to £990.

If, therefore, the council could contribute that sum, which was £656 more than what it had agreed to provide, he felt assured that the highway would be completed on the basis outlined. It was only through having the opportunity of utilising surplus seasonal labour which was at present out of employment that the board was prepared to make the council the liberal offer.

Mr Bvans said that the board was taking advantage of the present conditions in advancing the proposal. The Employment Promotion Board was looking for work of a useful nature with the idea of putting into occupation seasonal workers. Various undertakings were considered, and the Port Chalmers-Aramoana highway was chosen as the most suitable.' It was this subsidy from the Labour Department that enabled the board to make the present offer, which was an extremely liberal one. The present proposal did not deal with the sealing, as the chief work w'as to reconstruct the present highway. One of the worst features was the condition of the sea wall, and this would be entirely reconstructed, It was hoped that the expenditure of this money would leave the road in good condition for sealing. The distance that would be reconstructed would be five miles and a-half, as the work would not go past the Harbour Board’s boundary. Mr Evans said that the new road would encourage more motorists to use the highway, especially as the beach was a good one. He asked councillors to look at the proposal from a broad view. Cr W. Lee pointed out that the capital value of the land served by the road was only £12,891, and it seemed a little absurd to expend more on the highway than the land was worth. The council received only £Bl 17s 8d in rates from the settlers and only about £l2 from the crib owners, who were the chief users of the road.

Cr C. T. McCallum said that the present scheme was only to find work for men, and it was only following the Government’s policy throughout New Zealand in doing any job that would give men employment. He said that the geographical situation of the road should be taken into consideration. It seemed unfair on the ratepayers of the county to pay increased rates for improving a road that was of little use to the majority of them. It would be different if a contribution could be spread over a number of years. After Mr Evans had retired Mr McCallum moved that the council offer the board a contribution of £2OO a year for four years. Cr Young seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.