Sand drift nuisance

In May 1922 a scheme was advertised under the provisions of the "Sand Drift Act 1908" to control the nuisance of drifting sand at Lyall Bay. The scheme would cover 17 acres around Lyall Parade, Apu Crescent and Onepu Road and cost £4000 for levelling the sandhills and covering them with six inches of clay, creating a new road, raising the height of manholes, fire hydrants and lamps, and tree planting. There were delays while a plan was drawn up and funding arranged.

The Council owed money to the Lands and Survey Dept for having the Act put into effect, and tried to recoup this money with a tax on local homeowners, but many couldn't or wouldn't pay and wrote to the Council with their objections. The Council kept chasing these objectors for up to 10 years. The Collector of Rates sent a memo to the town Clerk in August 1925, saying:

"There appears to be a decided disinclination on the part of ratepayers in this area to forward their apportionments. The total number of property owners affect is 116, of this number 14 paid before I received instructions to collect. I communicated with each of the remaining 102 ratepayers on the 20th, since that date six only have paid."

Work finally began during 1925 and was completed by September 1926, but sand continued to be an ongoing problem. In 1928 the City Solicitor said it would be a breach of faith by the Council not to keep sand away from properties. In 1931 a sea wall was built which improved the situation.

Sources:

WCC Archives 1920/1504, Early correspondence 1926, Evening Post 22 Sep 1922, 31 Jul 1923, 16 Jul 1925