VALID REASONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24838, 11 February 1942, Page 6

VALID REASONS

ROADWAY THROUGH BUSH CONSTRUCTION NOT OPPOSED AMENITIES SOCIETY'S DECISION Some of the reasons for the construction of the proposed roadwaythrough the School Creek reserve and other bush surrounding the Ross Creek reservoir were disclosed at a meeting of the Dunedin Amenities Society on Monday, when Mr P. L. Moore wrote asking the society to support opposition to the project. The chairman, Mr Crosby Morris, said that Mr Moore had been in touch with him, and he had promised that the society would consider the question fully. Mr C. O. McKellar said that he had been through the bush in question and he considered that Mr Moore's protest was justified. Mr John Wilson said that the city engineer (Mr S. G. Scoular) considered the track to be' a necessity if adequate access to important water pipes was to be given. A sewer would also have to be taken across the route referred to, and this involved proper access. The matter would come before the Works Committee of the council in the near future, but as far as he could see the city engineer had a good case for the track. Access Necessary Mr J. Scott Thomson said that at their request, the city engineer had conducted three members of the Amenities Society's committee over the route of the suggested track. The city engineer had made out a very strong case for proper access to vital points in war-time, and although he (Mr Thomson) was particularly keen on the preservation of native bush, he was bound to admit that he was much impressed with the arguments advanced by Mr Scoular. Mr Scoular was-'prepared to allow two members of the committee to watch the construction of the track to ensure that the route avoided any fine, specimens of native trees. In Mr Thomson's opinion, this was as much as the society could expect. Actually the track would not go through any firstclass bush, but would traverse manuka scrub, panax, etc. Mr A C. Cameron, who had also accompanied the city engineer on the trip referred to, said that there appeared to be several reasons for the proposed track. These included quick access to vital stop-cocks, resulting in easier control and a saving in the number of men required for supervision, easy access for the repair of the main dam, and access for the proposed sewer from Wakari to the Woodhaugh Valley. There were several <other important considerations which could not be made public. Actually if it were constructed under supervision as promised and provided the scrub and trees cut down were carted away as suggested, the track should prove a great boon to many people, particularly elderly pedestrians, who at present were prevented through the absence of a proper track from visiting this locality. He understood that the grade of the track would not exceed one in eleven. Watch on Operations

Mr George Simpson said that he understood that the track, when constructed, would open up many areas suitable for picnic grounds. He felt that the society had more to gain by co-operation rather than opposition to what after all was largely a war-time measure. He was opposed to any unnecessary cutting of bush on the reserves, but this was a different matter. ' The chairman said that he was very pleased to note the Mayor's assurance that the society would •be consulted before anything was done. It was unanimously agreed that Messrs Thomson, Simpson, and Cameron be appointed a sub-committee to confer with the City Corporation and the city engineer to ensure that the route of the track (if decided upon) should be such as to cause as little damage to trees as possible; ' It was agreed that Mr Moore be thanked for his letter and acquainted with the society's' decision.