BEACH RESERVE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXVI, Issue 7900, 10 September 1929, Page 2

BEACH RESERVE

RESIDENTS SEEK IMPROVEMENTS THE ENGINEER’S REPORT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS Following requests for improvements at the resort made by residents at the Waihi Beach when members of the Beach Committee paid a visit of inspection to the seaside the borough engineer (Mr M. F. Haszard) made certain suggestions at the monthly meeting of the council on Thursday evening last. Residents’ requests are mentioned at the beginning of each of the following paragraphs, and Mr Haszard’s remarks are appended:— (1) That footpaths be made from the school to the beach, and the bridge be made more safe and the drain widened: This is not a very big matter. That portion from the school to the top of the hill requires just a little levelling; from the top of the hill to the bridge, a little side cutting and filling would be required; the foot bridge over the stream should be re-built, say 6ft wide, and a hand-rail provided; 12 feet of 6inch pipes should be put in to widen the road at the old stream crossing, with a filling over this to bring the road up to level. From this point to the beach would only require levelling. The cost of material for this I estimate at £7.

(2) That entrance to streets, from the main road, be made; This wprk can be done by the caretaker. • (3) That Hinemoa Street be opened up: I am unable to advise on this before taking levels, etc. PUBLIC UTILITIES (4) That notices to show the camping area and the caretaker’s cottage be provided: These should be provided. (5) That lavatories in the camping area be moved to a more convenient position: These are in too exposed a position. I would suggest that they be moved, one to either end of the reserve, and he built into an excavation at the bottom of the hill and be enclosed by a 6-foot iron fence.

(6) That the rest-room be removed off the road to a more suitable site: This would be better on the camping reserve, but I do not think it an urgent matter. (7) That public lavatories and dressing sheds be removed and a parking area made in their place: It is said that these are in too public a position. It is necessary that the conveniences should be where they are easily available to the public, and they must be on the council’s property. It is rather a matter of policy, which the council should deal with.

Among other matters mentioned by Mr Haszard were that the culvert in the road leading to Mr Maunder’s property be attended to as an urgent matter; that more rubbish baskets should be supplied at the beach; and that steps be taken to impound stray horses. With regard to tennis courts, etc., the engineer said he had no further information than that contained in his report last summer, while he had no recommendations to make with regard to the pulling down of old shantys or to the providing of electric light. All the work he had suggested could be done by the caretaker, with the assistance of a man from the staff.

COMMITTEE’S REPORT The committee, in its report, recommended: (a) That the footpaths from the Beach School to the top of the hill be levelled, and that filling be done where required from the top of the hill to the bridge site cutting; also that a footbridge six feet, wide, with hand-rail, be built over .the stream on the main road, that 12 feet of 6-inch pipes be put in to widen the road at the old stream crossing, and that a filling be put over these to bring this work up to road level; and that from this point to the beach be levelled.

(b) Entrance to streets from the main road be made.

(c) That the engineer bo asked to lake levels and prepare an estimate of the cost of opening and forming Hinemoa Street.

(d) That notices be provided to direct people to the camping area and to the caretaker’s cottage. (e) That the lavatories on the camping area be moved, one to either end of the reserve, and be built into excavations at the bottom of the hill, and be enclosed by a 6-foot iron fence.

(f) That the engineer be asked to have the rest room removed to i a suitable site on the camping area before December, 1929. (g) That the public lavatories and the dressing sheds be repaired where necessary and the parking area which adjoins same be levelled up. Willi regard lo the suggestion that the lavatories and dressing sheds be moved to a more secluded site, the committee had no recommendation to make.

(h) That the drain leading to and from the concrete culvert over the main road be cleared, and the road levelled. (i) The committee was of the opinion that it was unnecessary to, metal the full width of the rqad from the present rest rpopi to Mrs Burke’s shop, but recommended that the road be levelled over this section.

(j) That parking signs be erected on parking areas..

(k) That 16 feet of 9-inch pipes with suitable filling over them be placed in the culvert leading to Mr Muunder’s property. 1) That a further supply of rubbish baskets be obtained and placed on the reserve.

HELP FROM RESIDENTS (m) That the committee of beach residents be recommended to endeavour to raise the nucleus of a fund and issue a circular letter of appeal or take such other steps as may seem to them desirable towards getting money for improvements, the council to assist by typing any circulars and, if sufficient support was forthcoming, by applying to the Government for a £ for £ subsidy, the work to be done by unemployed labour. (n) That a letter be sent to the Thames Valley Power Board advising that beach residents were anxious to install electricity in their dwellings,

and that the council would be pleased if the board could see its way clear to extend its transmission line to the reserve.

(o) That the beach caretaker be instructed to see that the horses owned by the council and himself were kept in the paddocks provided and not allowed to wander about the road and the reserves, and take steps to see that all wandering animals were immediately impounded. (p) That the. Mayor, Cr. C. F. Butcher and the borough engineer be authorised to inspect and purchase a suitable horse for use at the Waihi Beach.

That the engineer be authorised to spend £5 on the purchase of suitable trees for planting on the beach reserve.

(r) That an endeavour be made to eradicate the blackberry growing on the “Druids’ ” paddock by having the weeds cut and burnt and the area ploughed, disc harrowed and harrowed, which could be done each year if necessary, the committee favouring this method rather than adopting the idea of leasing for a term of years.

The adoption of the report was moved by the Mayor and seconded by Councillor T, G; Short, who said that although the list of works proposed. seemed a very formidable one it did not amount to very much. It would of course cost a few pounds for material, but little labour in addition to that of the caretaker would be necessary. The report was adopted.