CASHMERE PARK PROPOSAL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25308, 7 October 1947, Page 3

CASHMERE PARK PROPOSAL

APPLICATION MADE TO LOANS BOARD .

Application to the Local Government Loans Board for permission to take a poll of ratepayers on a proI posal to borrow £5300 to buy 14 acres of land at the corner of Colombo street and Centaurus road has been made by the Heathcote County Council. A similar application was made to the board in 1942 for a loan of £BlOO, the additional £2BOO being the council’s estimate for levelling, draining and laying out the area. This application was deferred by the board as the time was considered inopportune. In October last year a committee of 14 ratepayers was formed and a petition was forwarded to all ratepayers in the Cashmere riding instructing them to vote on a proposal to borrow £5300 for the purchase of the land only, the development of the area to be left to a later date. The committee was anxious to secure the area before it was sold to builders for subdivision. The result of the voting was 'as follows:—for the proposal, 257, against, 43. During the winter members spent most of'their spare time opening up old drains on the area, and discovered that a stream of water was entering the area from under Centaurus road off the hills. Expert advice .on draining and levelling was obtained, and the committee was advised that, except for hillocks and depressions, the land could easily be levelled as the greatest part was already level. As the lowest portipn was about 15 feet above the level of the Heathcote river, which runs on one boundary, they were advised by two contractors that drainage would be a simple and inexpensive matter. Quotations were obtained for draining, levelling, clearing and sowing in park grasses, and it was found that the work could be done for £975. The committee undertook to raise £5OO and the Government offered a further £5OO so that •the work could be undertaken when the land was bought. Although the area had been zoned

by the Town Planning Committee for residential purposes, the interim control committee has been prepared to alter the zoning subject to the council’s agreement The loan would mean a rate of about 8s fid for 20 years on each £lOOO capital value.