NORTHERN MOTORWAY PLANS CRITICISED

Press, Volume C, Issue 29625, 22 September 1961, Page 13

NORTHERN MOTORWAY PLANS CRITICISED

The Waimairi County Council decid-ed last evening to advise the Minister of Works (Mr Goosman) that it considered there was no need for the proposed northern outlet motorway to proceed further south than Chaneys. Sufficient radial reads exist at this point, the Minister will be told, particularly if a by-pass road north and west of Belfast is constructed and a new bridge is built over the Waimakariri river.

The decision was made on the recommendation of the works and reserves committee, which reported on a deputation which it had received from the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, Ltd. Mr J. F. Fogarty, works manager of the company, had said Viat if the northern outlet took the proposed route south of Chaneys a road passing over the company's land could well effect the effluent disposal system and access for stock to the works.

The company had been unable to learn much about the route proposed from Chaneys to the city boundary. Mr A. H. Henry, the company’s chief engineer, had told the committee that 90 per cent, of the stock was brought along Guthreys road into the works at the northeast corner.

The area was generally low-lying and drainage was a constant problem. The company's drainage went into the south branch of the Waimakariri river and a built-up road across the area would dam the natural drainage of the land both above and below the surface. The question of an access route for stock to the works was a cause of anxiety to the company and it requested information about the route as it became available. Mr Fogarty had told the committee that his company supported any negotiations requesting the erection of a new bridge across the river

between the Belfast Hotel and the present bridge. Cr. H. J. Reynolds said 1J miles of reading connecting Marshland read with the proposed new bridge, and continuation of Johns road and the North road to that junction, would relieve the bottleneck caused by having only one bridge. The County Clerk (Mr K. Maclachlan) had told the committee that the District Commissioner of Works had advised that the route over the area in question depended largely on where the Christchurch City Council located the route inside the city. This information had not yet been received.