NEW SCHEME

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20532, 25 September 1936, Page 4

NEW SCHEME

TIMARU HARBOUR IMPROVEMENT REPORT BEFORE BOARD A scheme, which had the support of the Engineer (Mr B. W. Charman) and the Harbourmaster (Captain H. C. White), which, it was claimed, was preferable to schemes No. 1 or 2, in meeting the immediate requirements and future development of the port for many years, was jointly reported on by the two officers at yesterday's meeting of the Timaru Harbour Board. The scheme was submitted after consideration of the recommendations of the 1928 Harbour Commission. Tile accompanying- figures gave a comparison between the existing state of affairs and the state of affairs which would exist if schemes Nos. 1,2 or 3 were carried out, the first set of figures being Captain White’s scheme, the second the amended scheme, and the third the No. 3 scheme. The area of the present harbour is 50 acres, the manoeuvring area 24.7 acres, and the

available berthage room for future wharves at the North Mole 1350 lin. feet:— Area of harbour: No. 1—56.6 acres. No. 2—60 acres. No. 3—62.8 acres. Manoeuvring area: No. 1—31.3 acres. No. 2—38.7 acres. No. 3—41.5 acres. Percentage increase in manoeuvring area: No. 1 —26.7 per cent. No. 2 —56 per cent. No. 3—68.8 per cent. Available berthage room for future wharves at North Mole: No. 1 —1,900 lin. feet. No. 2 —1,700 lin. feet. No. 3 2,250 lin. feet. Estimated dredging required to complete new entrance channel: No. 1— 1,190 dredge loads. No. 2—1,190 dredge loads. No. 3 —1,190 dredge loads. Estimated quantity of stone to be lifted from North Mole wall and deposited on new alignment: No. 1— 61.110 tons. No. 2—124,445 tons. No. 3 —124,445 tons. Length of new wall to be built: No. 1 —450 lin feet. No. 2—1,200 lin. feet. No. 3—900 lin. feet. Estimated dredging required to dredge out new swinging area and to found new wall: No. 1—345 dredge loads. No. 2—867 dredge loads. No. 3 —963 dredge loads. Dredging required in the proposed new entrance channel was the same as that required in schemes Nos. 1 or 2. Dredging required for the foundation of the new wall and dredging out the new manoeuvring area was estimated at 963 dredge loads. It would be seen that the approaches to the harbour were the same in each of the three schemes submitted. Provision for additional available future berthage at the North Mole was 900 feet, making a total length of 2,250 feet. Shoaling In Caroline Bay The encroachment: of sand from Caroline Bay into the channel was held in check for a much longer period. The distance from the low water mark in January, 1936, to the outer end of the proposed rubble wall was 1,600 feet in No. 1 scheme, 1,250 feet in No. 2 scheme, and 2,000 feet in No. 3 scheme. It would also appear that No. 3 scheme would give some added protection to holiday makers using the Bay in northeasterly weather. “We consider that No. 3 scheme provides distinct advantages over schemes Nos. 1 or 2, for the following reasons:— “(1) Increased area for manoeuvring. “(2) Handling of larger vessels greatly facilitated. “(3) Additional berthage provided. “(4) Sand encroachment from Bay held in check for a much greater period. “(5) Ample room for handling the largest vessels visiting and likely to visit the Dominion. “In conclusion we have no hesitation in recommending scheme No. 3 in preference to schemes Nos. 1 or 2 in meeting the immediate requirements and future development of the port for many years.” “In my opinion it is a decent scheme,” said the chairman, who explained that it would give the port another six acres. “And more swinging room,” said Mr A. R. Guild. The Engineer: I am not to say that the scheme will not cost much more than the last, but provision was made for many years. Mr R. S. Goodman, who considered that the scheme was the best yet, moved that discussion be held over till next meeting, this course being followed.