Parklands plan

Press, 28 July 1976, Page 1

Parklands plan

A Waimairi County councillor who last week compared the new suburb of Parklands to a “Singapore slum” has vowed to con--inue his, criticism of the area for its lack of public facilities "I do not intend to let the matter lie.” said Cr F. Chisholm yesterday. “I will bring this matter up at the next council meeting. I am not talking about how Parklands is now but about how it will be 10 years from now.” Parklands lies to the north of North New Brighton, above Beach Road and between Mairehau Road and Bower Avenue. Mr Chisholm, at a WaiThe proposed shopping centre which has been planned for the new suburb of Parklands at a cost of $250,000. The shops, including a supermarket, will be built round a court which will have fountains and a playground for children. Tenders for its construction will be called within the next three months.

mairi County Council meeting last week, described the area as lacking in community facilities such as halls, churches. sports fields, and shops. However, “The Press” has learnt that planning and construction facilities in Parklands are at least comparable with those in other recently constructed subdivisions. Tenders for a $250,000 shopping centre, which will include a supermarket, shops, a bank, a medical centre, post office, and dairy will be let within three months. Two primary schools are at present under construction, with a secondary school planned for construction within 18 months. The genera] manager of the Canterbury Education Board (Mr D. Wilson) said that the primary schools would open next year. The secondary school would open in 1980. “We have been appraised of the situation at Parklands for several years, and have mad» our plans accordingly,” be said. Cr Chisholm said that the suburb lacked a commun-

ity hall. However, one of the developers of the project, Mr R. Maeger, has given land for a community hall, and will begin construction within one month. “We expect our permit to be approved in a fortnight.” Mr Maeger said. The hall would include a play centre, a public hall, and Plunket rooms, and would cost SiB,ooo.

Although Cr Chisholm compared Parklands to lowrent Government bousing at Otara and Porirua, homes in Parklands are privately owned. Sections average about $9OOO for 24 perches, and houses range from $17,000 to $30,000. Cr Chisholm criticised the development for its lack of sports facilities, but the suburb is within a kilometre of Queen Elizabeth II Park, and 12 per cent of the land within the suburb has been reserved for recreational reserves. Cr Chisholm had harsh words for the chairman of the Waimairi County Council (Mr D. B. Rich) who dissociated himself and the council from Cr Chisholm's designation of the suburb as a “slum.”