County Rejects Plan For Satellite City

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 16

County Rejects Plan For Satellite City

The West Melton satellite city scheme was premature and development by extending the metropolitan area should be considered, the town-planning committee of the Paparua County Council reported to a meeting of the council last evening.

Cr J. U. Barclay said it seemed that the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority, by restricting city development, was trying to force the satellite city on the county.

Cr A. Y. Shuker described the scheme »s folly. He said the authority eould not force it on the council. The committee reported that it had discussed with offi-

cers of the authority the authority’s proposals for extending the urban fence. Members queried the apparent failure of the authority to allow for urban development on the Port Hills, and they were told that the northern boundary of the special rural zone proposed by the authority ran from 50ft to 500 ft on the hills, and made provision for development on hill spurs. The authority’s planning director (Mr C. B. Millar) spoke of the restraints on city development, and said that

many people wanted to live in the north-western region. The acceptance of moderatedistance travel would assist in the development of a city at Rolleston-West Melton, and the review of the regional scheme was based on the assumption that the new centre would develop in the planning period ending in 1986. Mr Millar said that experienced consultants should be engaged to plan the extent and method of development, but there was no point in undertaking interim planning for West Melton in view of the broader planning now necessary for the enlarged city boundaries. On the committee’s recommendation, the council agreed that restrictions placed on the expansion of the urban area by the special rural zone should not be approved, and that it was not satisfied that the development of a new city at West Melton was in the interests of the people. The council also asked that land between Halswell Junction Road, the southern motorway, the Ellesmere expressway and Middle Lincoln Road be brought into the urban zone.

Ah earlier, decision, asking for an early report from the authority on its plans for West Melton, was confirmed.