Riccarton Workshops For Army Objected To

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28909, 1 June 1959, Page 11

Riccarton Workshops For Army Objected To

Multi-storey flats could be built by the Government on the site of the Army’s engineering workshops ih Riccarton road, the Mayor of Riccarton (Mr E. J. Bradshaw) told the Minister of Defence (Mr Connolly) on Saturday morning. The Army’s workshops, Mr Bradshaw said, could be transferred to the premises which Birds Eye Foods (New Zealand) Ltd., would be vacating in Mandeville street. Riccarton. The Minister met Mr Bradshaw, the borough council’s town clerk (Mr R. Sarjeant). the member of Parliament for the district (Mr M. A. Connelly), the regional planning officer (Miss Nancy Northcroit), the commanding officer of the Southern Military District (Brigadier J. T. Burrows). Major E. W. Boyle and Captain R. W. Bowman, to hear the council’s objections to the rebuilding of the workshops on the Riccarton road site.

Council's Intention Outlining his council’s objections, Mr Bradshaw sai I it was the council’s intention to keep industry south of Blenheim road and as a last barrier to allow no industry any further than the south side of Riccarton road. There were, however, three industries, including the Army’s workshop, on the north side of Riccarton road. “You may be inconvenienced by having to move but the other two industries will also have to move in time,” said Mr Bradshaw.

Riccarton road was ,the third busiest road in New Zealand, said Miss Northcroft. It was a feeder route to - some outer suburbs and it was expected to carry twice as much traffic within the next 15 years.

Allowing industry to build on Riccarton road would result in even more traffic congestion on the road, she said.

Questioned by the Minister, Brigadier Burrows said the traffic operating from the Army’s engineering workshops was fairly static and would only increase in the event of war.

As Birds Eye Foods (N.Z.) Ltd., was moving out of its premises in

Mandeville street—the former Government dehydration plant—the lease was available for a term of eight years, said Mr Bradshaw The site, he said, would be ideal for the Army and its present'Riccarton road site could be considered by the Government as. a site for a block of multi-storey flats. “Meal Site” “They are very close to the bus route, shopping centre and an ideal site for flats.” Mr Bradshaw said. “And very close to schools,” said Mr Connelly. The Minister: Would the council be willing to come into such a scheme? _ Mr Bradshaw: we would look into it. The Minister: They are fairly expensive and the rent is high. When the Minister mentioned that the Disabled Servicemen’s centre was next door to the Army’s workshops and had machinery there, the town clerk (Mr Sarjeant) said that in time there would be no disabled servicemen to train and it could become a recreation centre and town hall for Riccarton.

“You have no objection to a town hall but you object to the Army’s ‘hall’ which is for the defence of the country,” said the Minister.

Mr Bradshaw: That’s right sir. The Disabled Servicemen’s centre had much more machinery than the Army had in its workshop, said Major Boyle. Mr Bradshaw said that the council had wonderful co-operation from the . Army and had no complaints in that regard. The only complaint was the rebuilding of the workshops on the Riccarton road. site.

“Would you be prepared to abide by the decision of the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board if it got to that stage?” asked the Minister.

“That’s right.” replied Mr Bradshaw.

The Minister ended the meeting by saying he would give further consideration to the complaints when he returned to Wellington.