No Rezoning Of Rural Land For Industry

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30278, 2 November 1963, Page 13

No Rezoning Of Rural Land For Industry

An application by the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority to have 171 acres of rural land in the Waimairi county rezoned as industrial was disallowed by the 1 own and Country Planning Appeal Board yesterday.

The authority’s proposal to rezone the land was supported by the Waimairi County Council and opposed by the Christchurch City Council, the Ministry of Works and the Christchurch Post-primary’ Schools’ Council.

i J. W. Kealy, S.M., was ch Aman of the appeal bond. Other members were Mersrs C. H. Taylor and W. F McArthur. Mr J. N. Matson appeared for the author- : y. Mr J. G. Huchinson for tie Waimairi council, Mr J. G. Leggat for the City Council. Mr D. P. McGill for the Ministry of Works, and Dr. C D. Ellyett for the Postprimary Schools’ Council. The board dismissed the appeal on an application by Mr Leggat after evidence of

the county council and the authority had been heard. The appeal was dismissed on the grounds that the land was valuable agricultural land and unsuitable for industrial development The area is situated just outside the urban fence between Harewood road and Wairakei road. Robert Maxwell Parker, the county council's town plan-

nmg officer, said the council had for some time felt the need for an industrial area in that part of the county. “While the council’s plan was stiU in the undisclosed stage and had not been fully prepared, the authority suggested an area immediately south of the one in question which was within the urban fence,” he said. “However, a number of applications for residential subdivision had been approved and for this reason the area was eventually abandoned,” said Mr Parker. Later, in co-operation with the authority, the area which was the subject of the appeal was considered by the council as the most suitable site for industry in that part of the county. The authority was not prepared to make a modification of the plan involving an alteration to the rural zone unless the county

could show’ there was a genuine need for industry in the area, he said. “However, in 1962 we were able to show that such a need existed,” said Mr Parker. The council had received about 40 genuine inquiries, including sites tor a wool store, a concrete products factory, a shoe factory, an electrical engineering works, a vehicle assembly plant, and a timber mill, he said.

Mr Kealy said it appeared that the council let a perfectly good industrial site go for residential development. He could not understand why the council approved the subdivisions. “Sometimes mistakes can be corrected, but in this particular case, this can only be achieved by eating into firstgrade agricultural land,” he said. Mr Matson said the council had another area of land set aside for industrial purposes about one mile and a half away in Johns road. Unsuitable Site

The chairman of the county council, Joseph Colligan, said the Johns road site was unsuitable because sewerage facilities were unavailable.

Mr Kealy: Surely they can be provided. Mr Colligan said it would be uneconomic because of the distance. “There is also a crematorium there now,” he added. Mr Kealy: I don’t think its customers would object to being surrounded by industry. (Laughter.) Mr Colligan said the Railways Department had made available six acres of its land at Styx for industrial lease, but wanted £5OO an acre a year for it.

Charles Barclay Millar, the authority’s director of planning, said he was satisfied that the site selected between Hare wood road and Wairakei road was the best that could be found from the point of view of distribution, relationship to labour force and housing, road transport system. potential extension, availability of land and relationship to surrounding uses.

At the conclusion of all the evidence in support of the appeal, Mr Leggat moved that the case be non-suited.

After a brief retirement, the board dismissed the appeal.