$500,000 scheme for Hornby industry

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33425, 5 January 1974, Page 1

$500,000 scheme for Hornby industry

Site development has started on a 70-acre industrial subdivision at Hornby that will be one of the biggest of its type in Christchurch and, over a period, provide up to 80 sections of

varying size.

The land, in Paparua County, lies between Springs Road and the Hornby industrial railway spur, and is bounded on its south by Halswell Junction Road. It is zoned for heavy industrial use.

Earth-moving machinery is at work to make a new road, linking the end of Branston Street with Hatswell Junction Road. This will be about three-quarters of a mile long, and will be the main access road for the sections. By Monday, five scrapers— 1 two of them huge, $150,000

(machines —and out-size bull- j (dozers will be at work for! I the contractor, McKay Earthi moving, Ltd. 1 The whole development (will cost about $500,000 'according to Mr A. M. (Rhodes, who is the subI divider. He said yesterday ! that he had firms waiting for 'sites, and had had a number! ■of inquiries, including one; from an overseas firm inter-i ested in starting a carassembly plant. “The development will be! spread over a period of perhaps 10 years, according to the demand,” he said. “The final scheme plan of subdivision has not been approved, as we do not know all the individual requirements for land, but the sections will range from a quarter-acre to two or three acres. “There is a railway siding on the land and plenty of space for everything. This is (the biggest block of its kind 'within five miles of the centre iof the city, and another

major industrial development 'for Hornby.” Tax criticised Mr Rhodes said there was an unsatisfied demand for industrial sections, but the speculation tax on land sales had ruined the market. In the initial stages, at any rate, the land in his subdivision would be leased back to the tenants. “We are prepared to sell the land, and there are

: others in the same position, but the speculation tax has had the effect of taking large blocks of land off the market,” said Mr Rhodes. “All we ; can do is lease the land—and ■ some firms would rather buy. “People don’t realise how ; much industrial developi ment has been retarded by , these restrictions. 1 know of i one case where an electrical : cable manufacturing company has had to shelve its plans because of the problems with land sales.”