Wellington Government Centre Submissions

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32126, 23 October 1969, Page 30

Wellington Government Centre Submissions

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 22. Experience over the years had increasingly shown the importance of head offices of State departments being situated close to Parliament Buildings, counsel for the Ministry of Works, Mr G. S. Orr, told the Town and Country Planning Board today when the hearing of appeals against a proposed Government centre began.

The principal feature of the Government centre was that’ it would contain the head offices of all, or virtually all, Government departments; any not accommodated in the centre would be adjacent to it, said Mr Orr.

In submissions relating to appeals by the Wellington Regional Retailers’ Association, the Wellington Regional Planning Authority, Self-Help Co-op., Ltd, the Hutt County Council, the University Grants Committee and the Wellington City Council, Mr Orr said that as the complexity of government grew, the committee work of the House increased and the attendance of ministers and their principal advisers was essential. Mr Orr said the Government considered it of the highest importance in the interests of the efficient working of Parliament and of Cabinet Ministers that head offices of departments of State should form part of the centre.

He said citizens dealing with Government offices often found it necessary to visit more than one department and much time and energy would be saved if offices were within easy walking distance of each other. In addition departments were increasingly associated one with another and there was constant daily traffic between officers of different departments. By being accommodated within five minutes walking distance of one another, and of Parliament Buildings, savings in the use of motor vehicles or public transport could result. “Free To Choose"

Mr Orr said the true question for determination by the board was not whether certain buildings which it was proposed to erect in the area might be better, or just as conveniently, sited elsewhere. “The Minister, I suggest, is free to choose where he wishes to site Government buildings, provided that in doing so he does not contravene relevant town planning principles. “So that is the question. Does this designation or part of it, contravene relevant

towh planning principles?” he asked. It was not enough for the appellants to seek to establish that, by siting certain Government buildings elsewhere, town planning principles would not be contravened. He said evidence would be called on behalf of the Minister to show that the proposed designation was necessary in the public Interest and that no buildings would be included in the proposed centre which need not be there. Mr Orr said the proposals for the Government centre were the culmination of years of work and planning. When fully developed the centre would not only consti-

tute an exciting and harmonious redevelopment of a somewhat decaying urban area, it would give Wellington a Government centre of dignity, grace and distinction, fully commensurate with its status as the capital of New Zealand. he said.