MARINE PARADE PLAN

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1935, Page 4

MARINE PARADE PLAN

DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY

COST THE STUMBLING BLOCK.

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT’S LAND.

POSITION REVIEWED BY MAYOR.

The possibilities and probable cost of a marine parade for New Plymouth were comprehensively surveyed in a review of the activities of the present Borough Council presented to the council meeting last night by the Mayor, Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour.

The matter of a marine parade had been before the council on several occasions, stated the report, but has not yet reached any practical stage. , The difficulty in the way of a waterfront roadway from Ngamotu to Kawaroa Park was the fact that all the available land was vested in the Railway Department The department was keeping the land to meet any future question of line duplication to the port. In the meantime it had granted a lease of parts of the land to the council, upon conditions that it might be resumed on three months’ notice, and that nothing of a permanent nature should be constructed thereon. Although the council had made a temporary drive along part of the route, and had laid out the motor camp, it had no power to construct anything in the nature of a permanent drive. . Tire reasons for which the Railway Department held the land seem to preclude any possibility of the council acquiring it for a marine parade. The land comprising th'e portion of the route extending from Gover Street to the East End Reserve was vested in the council. The construction of a drive along this portion would, therefore, be possible if the council could face the cost. This, however, was not possible at present, the cost at a rough guess being between £60,000 and £lOO,OOO, to finance which it would be necessary to raise a loan. This would materially increase the rates, and the council was not prepared to place such a scheme before the ratepayers. It was, however, obtaining a report and estimate from the borough engineer, and when reliable figures were available the advocates of a marine parade from the port to Fitzroy, desirable though it might be from many points of view, would realise that it was not within the realm of practical politics for some years. For the portion of the route from the East End Reserve to Fitzroy the council had gradually been obtaining the necessary land. About a year ago it purchased four and a-half acres from the late Mr. J. S. Connett, and'it was now in negotiation with the New Plymouth Harbour Board for the exchange of the harbour reserve on the seafront in this locality. If the council could obtain the necessary land required for the marine parade and for bathing and recreation purposes along this particular seafront it would have paved the way for a substantial . part of tire marine drive to follow at a later date.

This was all that could be hoped for at present, but it did not mean that the council was not sympathetic with the proposal. It recognised that eventually a marine parade must be constructed, and it was prepared to grasp every opportunity to further the scheme. It was not, however, prepared at the present time to advocate the placing upon the ratepayers of an almost intolerable burden in the way of extra rates to meet the interest on the enormous capital outlay involved.