Residents' committee defends Castlecliff Beach

THE CASTLECLIFF Residents Committee has come out fighting in support of the maintenance of their beach.
In the Wanganui Chronicle on September 25 Horizons Regional Council candidate Allan Wrigglesworth said the council's current grooming of sand at Castlecliff Beach was money being "squandered".
Mr Wrigglesworth described Castlecliff as a "dangerous and little-used beach".
He said the money could be better spent extending the north mole, which would have "far-reaching and sustainable benefits".
Mr Wrigglesworth estimated the cost of extending the mole would be around $500,000.
But Castlecliff Residents Committee secretary Lynne Douglas was adamant the beach should be maintained for the public to use.
"[The beach] is used by a cross section of the community for various reasons all year round.
"The official head count shows over 9000 people visited the beachfront in the short peak season.
"The money [for grooming the beach] is peanuts compared to the value of the asset."
Mrs Douglas agreed that extending the north mole was a good idea, but disputed Mr Wrigglesworth's assessment of the cost.
"If Mr Wrigglesworth knows the formula to be able to make a simple 50m extension of the north mole for $500,000 perhaps he could share the secret with the Wanganui District Council, port users and professional engineers."
Mrs Douglas said if the mole was extended the ratepayers should not foot the bill.
"The port development company should be the one to pay, since they would get most benefit out of it."