Sessional_Paper_1930 — Page 43

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9. We find on the other hand that in the Aberdeen Valley there is a large tract of flat Crown land at present held by cultivators in small lots on short term permits, and that an additional large flat area might be obtained by reclaiming the swamp at the inner end of Aberdeen Channel and placing a causeway across the estuary here at a spot indicated by the Director of Public Works whilst still leaving ample room for the shelter of Chinese small craft in rough weather. We understand that there have been various proposals made in past years for the development of this land as a garden city, a race course, or a golf course, but we are of opinion that it would be best utilized as an area for Playing Fields..

10. The Director of Public Works has furnished us with a plan showing such land in this neighbourhood as might most suitably and cheaply be formed, levelled, and reclaimed for the purpose on the south side of the motor road. We understand that an area of 35 acres might be levelled and the earth deposited as filling on a further 55 acres making a total of 90 acres. With regard to cost we understand that a road diversion would cost about $35,000, nullah-training which would be indispensable, would cost about $300,000, and the work of levelling, constructing a causeway across the channel, and turfing about $675,000 making a total of about $1,010,000. The work would take from three to five years to complete, if the scheme was undertaken as a whole, according to the nature of the ground to be excavated and filled in.

11. Since therefore for less than the price as building land of an area of at most 10 acres at Caroline Hill an area of at least nine times that extent might be made available for playing fields in Aberdeen Valley, we recommend :—

(a) That Government should proceed to dispose of Caroline Hill in due course as opportunity offers, for building purposes, and that the proceeds should be used to develop the Aberdeen area. We agree that the method of disposing of the Caroline Hill area for sale must be left to the con- sideration of Government, and until steps are taken in this direction, we recommend that the area should remain as now available for playing fields and continue to be allotted for short periods.

(b) That whether or not Government is willing to provide the funds by the sale of Caroline Hill, it should as funds permit undertake the work of forming and laying out for playing fields the whole area in the Aberdeen Valley, as shown marked on the plan which is attached to this report as Appendix I. We do not consider that road diversion is essential to the project in its early stages.

(c) That if Government cannot see its way immediately or in the near future to undertake at the cost of public funds the whole project, it should begin as soon as possible with the work of training the nullah and with such site- formation as might be connected therewith. Should any Clubs then be desirous of taking up playing fields sites in the valley in accordance with an approved lay out, forming the sites at their own expense, we recommend that Government should facilitate such projects by the grant of long leases at a nominal rental with a guarantee of reasonable re-imbursement if it should be necessary to resume the land before the expiry of the lease. (d) That as the usefulness of the Aberdeen Valley area for playing fields would depend largely on convenience of access the Government should construct a short-cut suitable for motor traffic from Wongneichong Gap to Aberdeen. We understand that a suitable trace following generally the lines of the bridle path is possible, and that the distance from Wongneichong Gap to the new playing fields at Aberdeen Valley could thus be reduced by about one half. We understand that the making of this road would add $100,000 to the cost of the scheme outlined above.

12. In making the above recommendations we wish it to be understood that we do not imply that the development of the Aberdeen Valley scheme is to be entirely dependent on money being made available from the sale of Caroline. Hill but rather that the sale of Caroline Hill offers a means of financing the more expeditious completion of the scheme by Government.