A Seawall Must Come First

What, we want to know, is the good of having a swept-up restaurant, dressing sheds and an extension of a walk from Rocks Road to Hounsell's circle at Tahuna Beach, if there isn't going to be a beach? Yet City Councillors have embarked on what can only be described as a grandiose scheme to improve facilities at the beach when it grows more obvious with every spring tide and northerly storm that there isn't going to be a beach in a Tew years' time unless drastic steps are taken to halt the present tremendous rate of beach erosion. We feel that the facilities the council have projected are worthwhile and very necessary ones, but we also feel that a seawall, no matter what the cost, must be the first step in the development of the beach. Several years ago we heard of an investigation that was to be made at the beach for this very purpose, but we have heard nothing more. Has it been discarded, shelved or just forgotten about? Cr L. Stoliery called the beach "our biggest and most neglected asset". We agree wholeheartedly. The Christchurch City Council had a similar problem on its hands several years ago in respect of Sumner Beach. It solved that problem and if we wish to make Nelson our biggest asset - with a fine restaurant, dressing sheds and all the other facilities we should have down there - then this erosion problem will have to be overcome. And soon!

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A picture taken at the beach in 1961 at which time the line of sand dunes extended to the outside of the canteen

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This picture was taken two weeks ago - no sand dunes in sight and only dried broom to keep back the hungry high tides