RECOMMENDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 201, 25 August 1937, Page 11

RECOMMENDED.

OUTER DOMAIN ROAD. COMMITTEE'S DECISION. town planning viewpoint. The town planning committee of the Auckland City Council will recommend to the council at a meeting to-morrow evening the adoption of a scheme which will include the formation of the proposed drive through the outer Domain from Stanley Street to the vicinity of the ornamental ponds. Last week the town planning committee heard representations from a joint deputation of interested organisations opposed to the proposal. The report, which will be presented at the meeting to-morrow evening, states that the representations of the deputation have been given serious consideration, and the committee is in agreement that there should be no further encroachment on the Domain. The committee was seized with the value of the Domain to the city, and wished to place on record that it was desirous of guarding that unique heritage of the people for the fullest enjoyment of the greatest number. The committee stated that the recommendation had been framed on that basis, and that it was confident that a progressive development of the scheme, combined with a rigid enforcement of the traffic restrictions, would attain that end. The proposal to construct the drive under consideration, although brought forward at the present time as a means for providing work for unemployed, must only be considered as an essential part of the plan for the development of the Domain. Adoption of General Principle. The town planning committee will submit the following recommendations for adoption by the council:— That the council adopt the general principle of the plan prepared for the future development of the Domain and that any work to this end be approved by council before it is carried out. Should the council adopt the general principle of the plan it is suggested that the following recommendations regarding the carrying out of the work involved in the plan be adopted:— (a) While the committee, approver of the scheme of development of the area as shown on the plan, it is definitely of opinion that motor roads, as such, should be restricted to the minimum. necesaaTy to serve the playing fields, War Memorial Museum and Domain generally. For these reason it recommends that all the roads shown, on the .plan and proposed to be eliminated be forthwith closed and the areas converted to enlarging the playing fields, as also shown on the plan. In this manner the total length of existing carriageways will be consideraby diminished. (b) While the committee recognises that the vehicular requirements of the playing fields and Museum do not at the present necessitate the completion of the new drive through the area, it x °P mion tha t it is highly desirable to proceed immediately with the development of the arboretum as outlined on the plan and that as the citv grows and the arboretum is developed such a drive would be an essential feature of the Bj§n,|br..the purpose of serving the arboretum, playing fields and Museum, and recommends accordingly. 1 . v . (c) The layout of the arboretum and the paths serving it necessitates a certain amount; of formation work, and in order to obviate future disturbance of the area, and to enable .planting to be undertaken without delay, the committee recommends that the regrading and grassing of itie route of- the newdrive he proceeded withß and the realigned pathway formed. % (d) The footpaths through the arm reserved for the arboretum should be formed forthwith and an energetic programme of planting carried out in the arboretum and between the realigned pathway and the existing bush.

Museum a Focal Point. (e) The Museum is one of the focal points of the Domain and the committee suggests that the council give consideration to the closing of the drive immediately in front of the Museum and the retention of the drive to the north of the Cenotaph in lieu thereof, the restriction of the speed of vehicles on the drives in close proximity to the Museum to 10 miles an hour, and the prohibition of the parking of vehicles in front of the Museum. Much useful formation and planting should be carried out in the environs of the Museum. This work has been hampered in the past through lack of. funds, but the committee feels that it is desirable that the environs of the. Museum should be in keeping with the beauty of the memorial itself. The committee recommends therefore that this work be proceeded with as funds available. (f) The committee recommends further that the existing drive through the Domain to Stanley Street, be realigned where required, resurfaced and the margins suitably planted to present harmonious effect. • : The committee adds that it was of the opinion that by the adoption of these recommendations the development of the Domain for use for the purposes for ■which it was held by the council would be commenced and carried on in a proper and logical manner, and at the same time work for a certain number of unemployed would be provided immediately.