ST. CLAIR BEACH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23895, 24 August 1939, Page 19

ST. CLAIR BEACH

THE EROSION PROBLEM CONTRARY OPINIONS EXPRESSED "NO DANGER AT ALL" A reiteration of his remarks at the meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council, that the beach erosion at St. Clair was reaching alarming proportions, was made yesterday by Mr N. D. Anderson, who said that, from statements made by Mr John Wilson concerning the position, the question arose whether Mr Wilson realised the full seriousness of the situation. "Whole sections of the sandhills have slipped into the sea, and portions of the footpath which originally existed between St. Clair and St. Kilda have completely disappeared," Mr Anderson said. Residents in the area in question were entitled to know what was proposed to be done, rather than to be told there was no need for alarm. Recently, in an endeavour to check erosion, the Domain Board placed sandbags near the seat of the trouble, but these were quickly washed away, proving how ineffective such suggested protection was. It was true the sea was taking away what the board had built up, but surely Mr Wilson realised that the position at the present time was worse than ever before. A more comprehensive scheme than scrub fences and sandbags would have to be devised to meet the situation. Mr Anderson said that the residents nearby were alarmed, despite the reassuring statements made by Mr Wilson. The St. Kilda Council was satisfied that an opinion from a competent authority should be obtained at the earliest possible date. Mr Wilson's Reply " If Mr Anderson took the trouble to look at the beach himself he would see that there is no danger at all," said Mr Wilson, when the matter was referred to him last night. "A considerable amount of erosion has taken place, but it is not nearly as serious as it has been in the past, and the sand is already beginning to come back. In addition, a large quantity of spoil from the Dunedin Drainage works, consisting of heavy clay, is being tipped on to the spot where the erosion is greatest, and this forms a 'heavy bed for the scrub fence being constructed. "Mr Anderson's statement that the sandbags used as a protective wall were washed away is incorrect," Mr Wilson continued. " Only a few of the bags were disturbed but are still there. Moreover, the original footpath between St. Clair and St. Kilda, is untouched. This path has not been used for approximately eight years, and the footway that has been affected by the erosion is the one constructed on the seaward side of the original path. I have seen many erosions in the past, and they have always righted themselves."