SUBDIVIDING LAND FOR SALE

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 249, 20 October 1922, Page 3

SUBDIVIDING LAND FOR SALE

NEED FOR AMENDED REGULATIONS. A matter of interest to all who contemplate subdividing areas of land for sale came before the Waiteraata County Ouncil to-day. The County Knginecr (Mr. Gerald A. Jackson) had previously written to thj Chief Surveyor of the North Auckland Land District, pointing out that, under the present system, persons wishing to subdivide" land are subject to vexatious delays, extra costs, and often injustices which could easily be avoided under a proper practical system. Town plans had now to KS approved by the local body, the local Survey Department, and" the head otiice in Wellington. The local body could refuse to accept dedication of the proposed roads or streets, and the Minister could refuse to approve the plan unless the demands wen- complied will;. These demands wen- often conflicting. The Survey Department supervisor was very much on paper, and provided for straight lines and right angles, with ronsequent uneven and steep {Trades, deep cuttings and fillings, while local bodies preferred roads to conform with the contour of the ground, with long, easy grades, and depth of cuttings reduced to a minimum. Mr. .Jackson said the demand for ."> per cent of the saleable area to he. a public reserve frequently meant land being set aside hi gullies as a perpetual nursery for noxious weeds. Mr. Jackson contended that it would be more in the public interest if owners retained the whole of the land and expended the value of the 5 per cent area on the roads. The letter also points out that "Land owners and surveyors, when making subdivisions, generally make greed the first consideration, and' show no regard for the future of the district or public interest; therefore it is necessary that street supervision be exercised." Mr. Jackson also considers the present method of allowing plantation reserves to be made in lieu of roads should not he tolerated, as it is only piling up trouble for the future. He considered it" a clear, concise set of regulations were made applicable to the. whole Dominion the compliance with such could safely bo left to the local survey office. The matter was reported upon by a special committee of the council. The report stated the committee had an interview with the chief surveyor, who agreed that the time had arrived for amending the law governing town plans, and promised to forward any representations the council cared to make to Wellington. In the meantime the chiei surveyor agreed to back the council up in its demands re town plans. A letter was then sent to the chief surveyor. The committee suggested that pending definite legalisation the council should make a rule not to approve of any subdivisions with a less frontage to a public road than (50ft or (56ft to a beach that constitutes convenient vehicle access to the lots fronting it, also that ."> per cent of the saleable area of cveiy subdivision be set aside as a public reserve.