Big Industrial Expansion Expected In Christchurch

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 14

Big Industrial Expansion Expected In Christchurch

Planning for industries in the Christchurch area involves an expected industrial labour force of 45,000 in 1976, according to the annual report of the industrial advisory sub-committee to be presented to the annual meeting of the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority next week. Future densities of workers to an acre of industrial site are expected to follow the pattern of existing densities, and the committee concludes that in the intensive zones in the centre of the city there will be 50 workers to the acre; in intermediate zones 18 workers; and in the outlying zones, eight workers. “Land set aside for industry must be physically suited to the construction and operation of industrial plant and situated so that meteorological conditions minimise any possible adverse effects on surrounding development through atmospheric pollution,” the report says. “Where land under consideration for industrial zoning is used for purposes other than industry, at least a high proportion of it must be likely to become available for Industrial use within the plan period. Otherwise the land zoned will not accommodate the estimated number of workers in the future and it may lead to an unsatisfactory mixture of existing development interspersed with new industry. ‘Tor these reasons, it appears unwise to zone for industry areas of comparatively recent development other than industry, especially recent residential development. On the other hand, this does not preclude the zoning for industry of older areas ‘ripe’ for redevelopment, providing their redevelopment for industry is desirable and likely to be substantially completed during the plan period.” Summarised, the sub-commit-tee proposals for land to be designated for industry are that it should follow the pattern of

existing industrial concentrations; create fairly compact zones where conflict with other uses could be avoided and allow improvements to roading and servicing; and provide enough suitable and available land to accommodate the expeated labour force at appropriate densities. The area at present proposed for intensive industrial zones near the city’s centre is approximately 480 acres, but it is expected that about 360 acres will be used for Industry by 1976. The land is generally centred on Moorhouse avenue, from which it extends north to Tuam street To the east of Fitzgerald avenue it extends to Saxon, Phillips and Lancaster streets. To the south, between Waltham road and Antigua street, it extends generally to Brougham streets Westward from Antigua street the proposed intensive zones are between Moorhouse avenue and Harman and Disraeli streets.

At the expected average density, the intensive zones Could possibly accommodate 18,000 workers by 1976, and if fully developed later might cater for 24.000 workers, the report says. There are 614 acres for the intermediate zones, of which about 370 are expected to be used by industry by 1976. Proposed low-density zones amount to more than 1750 acres.