Local planning for Rolleston

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33407, 13 December 1973, Page 1

Local planning for Rolleston

<Neu> Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 12. The planning of the new town at Rolleston would not be a Government enterprise, the Minister of Works and Development (Mr Watt) said today. He was replying to criticism that the decision to build the new town was hasty, and that planning would be dominated by the Government.

"The Government felt > compelled to take this de-j cision on the future growth, of Christchurch largely be-i cause conflicting pressures, made it difficult for the local [ authorities involved to agree on a co-ordinated development policy,” Mr Watt said in a statement. The absence of any regional policy to cater for the city’s expansion, combined with the steeply-rising price of land within the urban fence, demanded a decision which the Government had now taken. Some of the benefits which were to be expected from the decision were already becoming appar. ent, he said.

“The Government has (merely taken the first initiailtive to make a new town ■ possible,” Mr Watt said. ; I “There will, Of course, be (considerable Government in- : vestment in the new town, which will be of great benefit I to Canterbury, but there is no intention of the Govem- ■ ment undertaking the plan- ■ ning on its own. “Setting the policies and ; objectives that would guide ■ the nature and character of a i new town must primarily be • a local choice, and one which, ' I hope, will evolve from the II full participation of all those i in the region who have so . much to contribute by way of ideas and experience." He said that the committee he w’as now establishing was not in any way charged with planning the new town. It was merely an essential first step in examining a number of issues on the timing and costs of development.