RECREATION AREAS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31307, 1 March 1967, Page 18

RECREATION AREAS

2000 Demand Estimated

Christchurch will need almost seven square miles of recreational reserves to cope with the 500,000 population it expects to have by the year 2000, says the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority in its 20-page report on “Recreational Open Space.”

It was desirable to establish a minimum rate at which open spaces should be provided, the authority says. Existing usage is about five acres for every 1000 persons but this allowed no excess capacity for redistribution or to meet hidden demand.

The authority suggests the aim should be seven acres a thousand persons to serve local, neighbourhood requirements, with an additional acreage over and above this to satisfy regional needs. Of existing facilities In Christchurch, the authority’s report says the total acreage of space set aside for organised games was just adequate to satisfy present demand. Even throughout periods of peak usage there was little excess capacity. The number of golf courses within the region was not sufficient to meet demand. At least three city clubs closed their waiting lists some time ago. The demand for wider access to areas in the fringes of the Southern Alps will continue to increase and that the Lands and Survey Department should be encouraged in its programme of development for these areas, the report says.

Head Injuries.—Peter John Balkende, of 1638 Ohoka road, Kaiapoi, was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital at 6 p.m. with head injuries after he had been involved in a collision between two trucks on the Main North road. His condition'was described as not serious.