Sounds landowners begin fight against zoning proposals

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33814, 10 April 1975, Page 1

Sounds landowners begin fight against zoning proposals

(From Our Own Reporter) BLENHEIM. April 9. A series of protest meetings in Marlborough and Christ" church about proposed land-use restrictions in Marlborough County, especially those in lhe Sounds, began tonight.

rhe county planning officer, Mr A. J. Burdett, has spent most ot liis work hours in the last two months answering questions from concerned landowners.

The restrictions are part of the proposed district scheme, announced in February. . Reports that some property owners will lose their land, or that they will not be able to build on their sections, are rife. About 800 people from as far away as Wellington and Christchurch attended the first protest meeting, which was held tn the assembly hall of Marlborough Girls’ College. in Blenheim. The meeting approved the setting up of the Marlborough County Resident’s Protection Society, and a committee was formed to press home and encourage objections. “This scheme should be ai

boon to the county; instead its a bloody bomb.” the organiser. Mr W. Floyd, told I the meeting. County councillors and officers were bombarded with ■interjections. Queues al office Thousands of property owners have queued at the county office to inspect the scheme plan, or made inquiries — often by toll. Interest was lacking in the first announcement on March 17, 1969. that such a scheme would be prepared. In spite of public notification and a call for suggestions on planning within the district, only local bodies and Government organisations showed any interest.

Mr Burdett says that, about 20 objections have been received. and many more are expected after the meetings. He is delighted by the interest shown.

Broadly, the objections stem from a requirement in ■land zoned rural A; the possibility that some landholders in rural B zones will not be able to use their land in the Sounds for residential purposes; and a conditional-use tag applied to forestry within the Sounds. Farm units The preamble to the scheme says that owners of land zoned rural A will be discouraged from subdividing into areas smaller than economic farm units. The effect will be to prohibit the replacement of dwellings on units of less than 20 hectares (49 acres), unless proof is provided by the Ministry of Agriculture that the units are “independent economic farm units.” There are many such holdings near Blenheim.

Changes announced In a statement released to “The Press” today, the county acknowledges that this policy is unfair and impracticable, and says it intends to vary the scheme to make such rebuilding a conditional use.

The county chairman (Mr W. E. Brown), said in the statement that the con-ditional-use applications would require council approval, but it was expected

that this would be almost automatic, "except where there were verv strong grounds to refuse, such as a serious hazard to the public, [ground subject to slipping or [flooding, and the like.”

, The other main objections ; relate to the Sounds. Some: [areas have been zoned rural 'B, and the scheme makes it clear that this land is intended for farming and recreation, but "With the added restrictions on uses to achieve the visual function of keeping the land free of building and from visually intrusive land uses.” Mr Burdett said that although about 12 landowners in the Sounds were affected by rural A zoning, as many as 30 or more were affected by the use to which rural B land could be put. Most, because of the unsuitability of their land, would not be permitted to build on their sections. “If the council fails to show that there is a serious detraction from the amenities of the area (in rural B) by the' proposed use, then compensa tion might well be payable toi such landowners,” said Mr! Burdett. “The main reason this rural B zone was made was that the land in it was not] suitable for building on —I not all sections, but a lot of them. Even the ones worth building on are difficult sites.” he said.

As well, there are in the scheme residential A, B, and C zones. Only the B and C zones affect the Marlborough Sounds — the B zone in respect of high density building and the C zone, low density.

There are fears that the small amount, of residential C land (600 hectares for the Sounds) is inadequate.

‘National importance’

Mr Brown said the Sounds were of special importance and the Government required special treatment of the region. “However, until the Government’s specific intentions become clearer, my council has little choice but to apply holding zonings in the area until objections are considered, by which time the details should have been resolved. However, it is not my council’s intention to prevent the extension of the Sounds for residential use,” be said.

The other grey area in the scheme relates to forestry' in the Sounds. The scheme, said Mr Burdett, treated forestry with caution. More than 160.000 acres of forest was planted or proposed for the Sounds. There were many problems relating to it. and that was why the council had designated it a conditional-use j area.

The Minister of Works in the previous Government, Mr Allen, refused a certificate of compliance for the first and more liberal scheme of 1969.