Early Review Of Zoning In Waimairi Advocated

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30270, 24 October 1963, Page 17

Early Review Of Zoning In Waimairi Advocated

Housing development in the Waimairi county would have been accelerated had areas of freehold land been available for industry, said the chairman (Mr J I. Colligan) in his report to the annual meeting of the council last evening. The only area of any size in the county zoned for industry which was not yet built on or occupied was Railways Department land in Papanui, he said. This land could be acquired by industry only on lease, but the Government would not release the land, nor were many industrialists interested in leasing land An early review of industrial zoning in the county was needed, he said. The council was bound by the regional planning scheme and could not bring further land into the urban area to zone as industrial.

In the western part of the county it was becoming increasingly difficult for land development companies to obtain reasonable areas of land for housing development. Only in the Papanui riding could land development companies obtain land

of any area for housing development. However, development was held up until sewer works were completed. This could mean a delay of two or perhaps three years in some streets. "It is quite apparent,” Mr Colligan said, “that the rate of housing development which has taken place in the county over the last five years cannot be continued for the next five years unless the urban fence is extended in those areas where there is a demand for sections Land for something like 3500 sections would be required. "In the light of the industrial and residential land requirements of this county for the next five years, every effort should be made to have the Regional Planning Authority review its urban fence at the earliest possible date. It was always understood by this council that such a review was to be made in 1964. However, it is now understood that the review will not take place before 1966. If such is the position, then I feel that this council must make every endeavour to have the original understanding carried out,” said Mr Colligan.