NEW OUTLET NORTH

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29001, 16 September 1959, Page 14

NEW OUTLET NORTH

M.P. Fears Loss Of Farmlands (from Out Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 15. The plans for the proposed northerp outlet from Christchurch should not be carried out in a way which would involve the loss of good farming land, said Mr W. H. Gillespie (Opposition, Hurunui) in the House of Representatives today* during the discussion on the roads vote in the Estimates. Mr Gillespie said the proposed northern outlet from Christchurch involved a new motorway starting somewhere between Chaneys Corner and Belfast, with a new bridge over the Waimakariri river, and joining with the Main North highway about Woodend.

“Unfortunately this proposal will mean the loss of much good farming land around Kaiapoi," said Mr Gillespie. “That means small farms will be subdivided and become almost worthless. There is plenty of room for a highway to the east, which could go through practically worthless land, much of it sandhills. “Another alternative would be for a highway to the west which would not interfere with good farming land. “Either of these alternatives would cost more than the project envisaged, but that extra cost is small compared with the loss to the national economy if the good farming land around Kaiapoi were used for the road.” Mr Gillespie said the objective of the existing proposal seemed to be only to cater for heavy holiday traffic to the beaches and to race meetings, which sometimes caused traffic delays at the Waimakanri bridge. are already two outlets j

from Christchurch which, put into shape, will suffice for many years,” said Mr Gillespie. “This would be preferable to putting good farmland out of action.” Mr N. E. Kirk (Government. Lyttelton) agreed with Mr Gillespie that Christchurch needed another northern outlet, but he said he doubted whether a motorway was needed. He said there were no densely populated areas north of Christchurch as there were in the vicinity of Wellington and Auckland.

“Taking the traffic to the east of Kaiapoi does not appeal, although the road would pass over land of lower value, because hefty bridging problems would be encountered, particularly on the Waimakariri. “If the road were built to the west of Kaiapoi, there would be no need to cross the farmlands, which are some of the best in Canterbury, unless the road were a motorway and I cannot see why it has to be a motorway,” said Mr Kirk.