LAND FOR INDUSTRY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30125, 8 May 1963, Page 8

LAND FOR INDUSTRY

Zoning To Be Reviewed While there appeared to be adequate land zoqgd for industry in Christchurph, much of the. land was not available for industry, Mr J. I. Colligan complained to the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority yesterday. “On paper, we have acres and acres zoned for industry, but a lot of it is just not available,” he said. "We are losing industry to the North Island and other areas as a result." The Canterbury Progress League had taken the matter up strongly and said industries were being lost, said the chairman (Mr E. J. Bradshaw). “But when we ask for specific instances we come down to one case where an industry left Christchurch lor absolutely different reasons. When you get down to tin tacks you can’t produce one industry not being established because of the zoning provisions.” Mr Colligan: I will give you one r.ow. He could agree that industrial zoning was causing concern, and the position must be overhauled from time tc time, Mr Bradshaw continued There should be a survey oi availability and suitability ol land industrially zoned, and if it was found that it wat not available or suitable, othei land should be made avail able. The authority agreed tha* its technical advisory com mittee should consider tha’ for urgent attention. Waimairi Case On an individual case ir which the authority has resolved to amend the planning scheme by changing an area of land in Waimairi from rural to permit its development for industrial purposes, Mr Colligan said that practically all the constituent councils had no objections, but the matter was still being delayed and no approval had been received from the Minister of Works (Mr Goosman). Was his council justified in telling the industry it could go ahead with its plans? In allowing four months for objections, the legislation was protecting the rights of landowners, Mr Bradshaw said. It did not seem reasonable, however, that there was no time limit for the Minister's decision. The authority agreed to ask the Minister for an early reply.