'Hasten slowly’ on Rolleston

Press, 22 July 1976, Page 2

'Hasten slowly’ on Rolleston

Nothing would be done in haste by the Government to dispose' of its land at RoUeston. the Minister of Works and Development (Mr W. L. Young) told the executive of the Canterhtirv Regional Planning Authority yesterday. “We are not approaching the disposal of the Rolleston land with a view to putting ‘paid’ on it within five minutes." the Minister said. “I reassure you that there will be no haste. I will be putting some thoughts to Cabinet a- to the disposal of the land, but we will not be slamming the door ” Tl Minister was replying to a request from the authority that the disposal of the Rolleston land should be deferred until the authority has had time to produce its new regional plan to show where development should take place to take population growth away from Christchurch. He said he realised that there was disappointment in some quarters when the Government announced the abandonment of the Rolleston new' town plan because there was no money for the project. “I appreciate the fact that the authority has an open mind on the question, and I am sure there will be some solution as to an alternative

to Rolleston.” the Minister said. “I have a report before me now as to how the land will be dealt with, and I will be having discussions with others interested We are trying to get New Zealand to go ahead, and we have a common interest in this.” The authority's chairman (Mr D. B. Richi 'aid that the Minister's reassurance was welcome, as the authority felt it would be best for the Government to maintain its interest in the land until the regional plan was drawn up. “We believe that haste should be made slowly over the disposal of the Rolleston land." said Mr Rich. "There is a possibility that what could happen to the land would prejudice the regional plan.” The authority’s Director of Planning (Mr C. B Millar) said there was a great deal of pressure for urban peripheral development of Christchurch, and there had been “unfortunate results” with the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board in the authority’s efforts to control the speculators. He suggested that it would be hard, under present conditions. to sell the Rolleston land in large blocks, and to i sell it off in small lots would be disastrous. None of the fanners who had sold their land at Rolleston would want to buv it back, said Mr W. E Walker, chairman of the Ellesmere

County Council. The council had put a special rural zoning on the Rolleston block to [try to stop unwanted de-1 ! velopments. i Until the principles of new I growth were defined in the j regional plan, the Govern-j ment should not rock the i boat, said Mr P. J. McAloon I (Riccarton Borough Council). The Mayor of Kaiapoi (Mr! iB. O. Williams) said that the I [authority's district, bounded I on the north by the Ashley! j River, was not big enough to [give full scope for planning . for more people. ! “That's a matter for the | j local bodies to talk over with I ■the authority." said the Min-1 ■ister. "At least, there would! >be understanding. Take it as | J far as you can to get agreement for a larger districts