$3.lm spent on motorway land

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32873, 23 March 1972, Page 1

$3.lm spent on motorway land

The Ministry of Works has spent $3,135,600 on the purchase of properties for the Christchurch Northern and Southern Motorways.

Excluding land acquired for the Belfast to Pinehaven section of the Northern Motorway which is now built, the Ministry has bought 290 properties—residential, industrial and commercial. By the time the motorway system is completed more than 1200 properties will have been purchased. Many , will not be required for another 20 years or more. The land purchase officer for the Ministry (Mr R. A. Aubrey) said yesterday that

much of the money spent this financial year on property acquisition had been in the Jerrold Street to Curletts Road section.

Construction of the motorway over this section is due to begin in about two years. Mr Aubrey said a further 40 properties would be acquired in this section during the coming year for construction due in 1974 or 1975. Other property had been purchased to protect the motorway route from redevelopment and to relieve cases of personal hardship. Mr Aubrey said that the properties not required for immediate use or for other Government purposes were being leased. The annual return from leasing was about $150,000.

The Ministry has been buying property for motorway development in the metropolitan area since 1967 and is granted an annual budget for this purpose.