‘Rollestons’ sought elsewhere

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34021, 10 December 1975, Page 1

‘Rollestons’ sought elsewhere

The Canterbury Regional Planning Authority will ask the new government to permit the Rolleston Planning Group, in association with the authority and local bodies, to examine the most desirable place or places in Canterbury to take over-growth of population from Christchurch.

This decision was reached at a meeting of the authority yesterday afternoon. As considerable difficulty was met in trying to frame exactly what the authority wanted, it was agreed to seek a discussion with the new Minister of Works.

The expansion of “suitable” existing towns or the promotion of new settlements will be covered in a new regional master plan for the authority’s enlarged district. The cancellation of the Rolleston project had made the question more urgent and relevant, said the chairman (Mr D. B. Rich). The preparation of the plan was the major task ahead for the authority, and studies for it would take at least two years. The review, made necessary by die extension of the authority’s work to cover council districts outside Metropolitan Christchurch, will also update the authority’s regional plan for Christchurch. In the wider sense, the review’s main purpose will be to conserve natural resources in the district between the Rakaia and Ashley rivers, determine growth points, and relate them to urban needs, including the degree of difficulty in providing urban services. Rolleston’s fate was raised by Cr I. G. Clark (Waimairi), who said that the authority was starting a regional-plan study which might show that the proposed new town at Rolleston was the best idea. “It seems to me that it is easier to get politicians to continue a line of action, rather than to get them to change their minds,” Cr! Clark said. “This authority i should suggest to the Gov-!

ernment that it makes no firm decision on Rolleston until studies are completed. “It would be ludicrous to find in six months time that the Rolleston scheme was about as good a one as could be found,” he said. “We complained before that we did not have a chance to do research on the site for a new town. We do not want to fight an uphill battle with the Government to get what we might find to be necessary.” The chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) said the authority was in a difficult position. It had not had time to do its own research, Rolleston, whatever its merits or demerits, at least gave a breathing space in considering what was to be done to cope with the growth' of Christchurch.

‘Reservations’

Cr P. D. Dunbar (Christchurch City) said there was a lot of sympathy with Cr Clark’s proposal to defer the ‘‘scrapping” of Rolleston, but it had been announced that the project would not go ahead. “Does Cr Clark mean to ask the Government to resume the studies on Rolleston, or broaden the studies to a wider sphere for the benefit of the authority?” Cr Dunbar said. Mr M. R. Carter said that the Christchurch Drainage Board saw merit in a study of the wider possibilities, but had reservations about lan'. and sewer drainage from Rolleston. “There are people who opposed Rolleston who have now reed the reports, and wish they had kept their mouths shut,” said Cr Clark. The Mayor of Kaiapoi (Mr B. O. Williams) said the planning group should be allowed to complete its studies. If Rolleston went ahead, even on a smaller scale, it would be an advantage to all.

“This authority supports a planned location for the city’s over-growth, but i has never said it approved of the Rolleston site,” said Cr P. J. McAloon (Riccarton). “The planning group has one goal, Rolleston. Could not the group’s brief be widened to do a regional studv to find alternatives?”

The authority would not want to see its functions usurped over its region by a Government-funded group, said Mr Rich. “The ball is in our court, and we should accept the responsibility,” said Cr M. J. Tayl-r 'Heathcote). The planning group was appointed to develop the town, not to pick a site, in which is was not expert, said the authority’s director (Mr C. B. Millar). The government should be asked not to abandon Rolleston until the authority had studied new town sites or a site.

When a member said that the authority should seek the views of its member bodies, Mr Rich said there was some need for urgent action. ‘Sense of unease’ “There is a sense of unease at the sudden cessation of Rolleston planning,” said Cr Dunbar. “This is not a good thing to do when all planning is u eful, and a great deal of it is necessary.

“We want the new government to get the feeling of local bodies before the Rolleston project is abruptly terminated.” Cr McAloon asked if there was any point in asking for a deferment when the government appeared to have made up its mind. Mr Rich said the government might well see an advantage in getting local opinion.

“The " government is saddled with an election promise, and would probably welcome an opportunity for discussion,” said Mr Rich.