Assisted by excellent weather over most of February, sand levels over the Ocean Beach continue to be very high, with all access ways open. Work continues on the background research that is needed, and the keen observer may have noticed a series of red and yellow buoys near the surf zone. These are helping to identify the direction and speed of in shore currents, and are part of the wide ranging studies on Ocean Beach. Those studies should all be completed by mid-year, and the Council will be considering the information received and future options a little later in the year.
Continuing benign weather conditions have ensured that beach profile (sand levels) on the Ocean Beach continues to be high.
The major event during the month was, however, identification of contaminants in the dunes immediately adjacent to Kettle Park. Specifically, industrial material buried under the Kettle Park playing fields, from an old landfill site, had been exposed on the seaward dune These findings were identified by studies into the dunes that had been commissioned by the Council.
Surf clubs and relevant authorities have been advised, and warning signs have been placed at all beach access points.
A more detailed investigation of the contamination at Kettle Park is planned, with results from new tests expected before Christmas. It should also be noted that the studies showed that the clay cap and sand covering the construction material and industrial waste under the playing fields is effective and there are no health issues with the fields themselves. Further information will be placed on this site when the results of the tests become available.
The matter has for some time engaged the attention of the Dunedin and Suburban Reserves Conservation and the St Clair Improvement Societies, and a large and influential deputation from these bodies waited on the City Council last night.
This was not a small local matter. An esplanade was required for St Clair, and anything that tended to be betterment of the Ocean Beach meant the benefit of Dunedin as a whole.
The deputation would ask the council to bear in mind that it did not in any way wish to reflect on either the Ocean Beach Domain Board or the St Kilda Council, for it fully recognised the valuable work which both these bodies had done; but both had been hampered by lack of funds.
What esplanade existed was being gradually washed away, and surely the council must see that it was an urgent matter. He might mention also that the movement had the sympathy of the Ocean Beach Domain Board. The idea was to extend the esplanade to Forbury Road, as originally built.
Dr Roberts pointed out that to have an esplanade extending from St Clair to Forbury Road would be a very great boon to the community, and would be used by thousands of people, not only from Dunedin, but visitors from elsewhere.
Nothing had been done to enhance the natural beauties of this part of the coast. There was not even a seat provided.
Mr J. A. Park pointed out that in the Ocean Beach the city possessed an important asset which had been much neglected This beach proved a constant attraction to a very large number of respectable people, and it was for these that this deputation, with the held of this council, proposed to cater.
The Mayor assured the deputation of his sympathy, and assured them that he would do all in his power to further its wishes. He could see nothing in the way of allocating something and he would do his best to have something put on the list. In the meantime the council would refer this matter to a committee. The cost of the esplanade will probably be about 3000.
• Considerable activity prevails at present in horse-dealing between Australia and New Zealand. The steamer Victoria, which left Auckland for Sydney on Monday night, took away 30 draught and 47 light horses, and the Wairuna, which left for Newcastle yesterday, shipped a further consignment of 140 draught horses.
A New Zealand dealer who has just returned from Melbourne states that there is still a big demand in the Australian markets for New Zealand horses, and that good quality animals could be easily disposed off. West Australia, he said, was particularly eager to buy.
- ODT, 22.9.1910.
The strong south westerlies that marked September carried on into October, although in the latter half of the month the wind direction reversed, with strong north easterlies prevailing. Despite the strong winds the beach is well stocked with sand, with all access ways available.. It is hoped that the high beach profile (sand levels) will be maintained over the summer months, with more settled nor' easterly weather expected over the summer.
The investigation process into the old landfill site at Kettle Park continues and it is hoped that these studies will be largely completed before Christmas. It is likely that the thrust of the Team's report to Council and any consequential recommendations for action will be largely determined by the results of these landfill studies.
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