Old People’s Village At Styx Opposed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32296, 14 May 1970, Page 5

Old People’s Village At Styx Opposed

Proposals by the Social Service Council of the Diocese of Christchurch to look after up to 350 old people in a village to be established at Lower Styx Road were opposed at a hearing by a town-planning panel of the Waimairi County Council yesterday.

The Social Service Council (Mr P. C. Champion) asked for a specified departure to allow the building of selfcontained flats, hostels, an intermediate care wing, a geriatric hospice and shops on

14} acres of land on the north side of Lower Styx Road. Mr F. A. Gunn, the council’s secretary-manager, said that it would be desirable to have a village-type accommodation for people of differing ages and incapacity. No other suitable land was available within the urban fence. Between 12 and 15 acres would be needed for the buildings, and free ground for recreation, such as bowls and croquet. High-rise buildings would not be appropriate for the intended uses. If the application was granted, detailed planning would start without delay. The first step, said Mr Gunn, would be the construction of two blocks of self-contained flats, each of 28 units, and the intermediate care unit of 40 beds.

Mr Champion said the 14} acres was part of a 198-acre farm, owned by the Church Property Trustees, and leased for farming. The Institute of Agricultural Science was'ob-

jetting to farm land being used, but in fact, the land was being used as a racetrack, and to train horses.

The county chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) asked if the applicant was aware of the county council’s objection to further subdivision on the Styx River, as it was worried about more drainage adding to flood problems in the lower reaches. Farming Land Dr Harvey' Smith, councillor of the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science, said that 10 per cent of the proposed village site land was of high farming potential, with 15 per cent from moderate to good potential and 75 per cent of moderate potential. The establishment of a large vegetable-processing factory at Hornby was indi cative of the growing import ance of process crops for ev port, and to maintain produc tion costs of these crops at their lowest possible level land of high and moderate

potential must be retained for farming. “It is acknowledged that the provision of housing for people, particularly elderly people, is essential, but in the interests of the country and community, urban expansion should be restricted to low potential agricultural land,” he said.

Mr F. S. Robinson, regional planning officer, objected on behalf of the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority. He said that while the village site had the appearance of rural land, it was close to the main north railway line and the busy Main North Road, it was bounded on the south by an industrial zone, and the Styx railway loop would join •the main line and have its sidings nearby. He criticised the site for its remoteness from amenities and services and said that a •hange involving extension of ’he urban fence would have to be acceptable to all local bodies in the district. Mr Robinson questioned the

wisdom of isolating the old people. Present-day trendy! were that accommodation wasj best provided in small groups! in residential neighbour-! hoods. This view was sup-1 ported by the New Zealand Board of Health. ,

The desirability of providing a geriatric hospital along! with old people’s accommo-! dation was questionable, he! said. The North Canterbury! Hospital Board supported the! concept that a geriatric hos-j pital should be an extension of a general hospital, with alii its services, and was apply-; ing this belief in the use of! Coronation Hospital for geri-J atric cases, in association! with Princess Margaret Hospital.

The council’s town-plan- i ning officer (Mr R. M. Par-! ker) said the council should! consider whether the proposal for a village or the pre-i servation of farming land was of greater public interest. The panel will make a recommendation to the coun-i cil. 1