Rural revival?

Press, 8 December 1976, Page 12

Rural revival?

The population of 35,500 in rural districts between the Ashley and Rakaia Rivers can be expected to grow as irrigation schemes, forestry' developments and improved agricultural production have their effect, says the Canterbury Regional Planning Authority 7 ’® indicative plan. The plan notes that Rangiora and Kaiapoi have committed plans to double their populations, to 12,000 and 10,000 respectively, but points out that the local bodies here have planned for limited development, in spite of the pressure for expansion. The plan, suggesting limited development for towns north of the Waimakariri River, says that its favoured development zone, along the Main South Road, is without a network of significantly-sized towns. Pressure has been resisted by the councils. The exception is the township of Rolleston, “ which between 1966 and 1976 showed a growth rate of 14.4 per cent, the fastest rate in the region! It is noted that the

planned urban development north of the Waimakariri will take a population of 25,000 to 30,000, twice the size of Ashburton. The proposals for urban growth south-west of Christchurch will have an effect on Ashburton town and country. Although the rate of building construction has slowed, the largest rates of growth have occurred at Rangiora, Woodend and Kaiapoi. Darfield, Hororata, Kirwee and West Melton can be expected to grow with irrigation schemes. The report says that planning should be directed to limited development for such places as Amberley, Oxford, Darfield, Kirwee, Dunsandel, Lincoln and Leeston, as well as for Kaiapoi and Rangiora. The plan suggests that planning for developments along the Main South Road should be the subject of special studies, taking about a year. This would not involve the freezing of land transfer, or prevent development in urban zones, «Uch as that «t Rolleston.