‘Interference’ on yards plan upsets Cheviot

Press, 7 March 1978, Page 3

‘Interference’ on yards plan upsets Cheviot

Cheviot district residents are unhappy that plans to establish sale yards for cattle on the outskirts of Cheviot township are being opposed by the Ministry of Works and the Health Department. The Cheviot Agricultural and Pastoral Association plans to set up sale yards in its show grounds on the west side of the township. Its president (Mr S. Murray) says that the project has complete local support. There have been no local objections, even from nearby householders, he says. It is seen as benefiting farmers — as vendors and purchasers — in reducing the cost of transporting stock, and it is believed that the sales would provide an economic boost for businesses in the township. Indirectly, resident in northern suburbs of Christchurch, who are unhappy about heavy truck traffic to Addington market, could benefit from some reduction in the movement of stock through the city. At the request of the show association, the Cheviot branch of Federated Farmers surveyed about 95 per cent of cattle breeders in the district to see whether there would be support for holding a cattle sale in the ddistrict several times a year. The survey showed considerable enthusiasm for the proposal.

About 3000 calves are bred annually in the district and the bulk of these go to Addington market, but about 2000 come back into the district again. At the time of the survey the transport cost either way was $4 a head and this is likely to rise again next month. As well, about 800 cattle are moved in the spring, and about 50 bulls annually. By having a local sale, transport costs on cattle obviously would be reduced. A meeting held under the auspices of the Cheviot branch of Federated Farmers, and attended by about

40 people, gave unanimous support for the project.

The show association has since decided to proceed with additions to existing stock yards on its grounds. To enable the project to go ahead, the association applied to the Cheviot County Council for conditional use of its grounds for this purpose under the terms of the Town and Country Planning Act and this was granted by the council. A decision after a hearing just before Christmas laid down certain conditions. These were along the lines of those suggested by the-asso-ciation in its application. Some of the council’s conditions were that the use of the yards be limited to four sales a year in April, May, July and September; that no stock should be kept in the yards overnight; as far as possible stock should be loaded and unloaded in daylight; shingle should be spread over the area of the yards to a depth of at least 300 mm (Ift) to act as a base and filter; certain- planting of trees should be completed within a year; and the yards should be sprayed by the association when required by the council. However, establishment of

the yards on the proposed site has been opposed by the Ministry of Works and Development, supported by the Health Department. The required consent of the Health Department to establishment of the yards has been withheld. The association has, therefore, asked that in terms of the Health Act, a special board of appeal should be set up. The Ministry of Works has also advised of its appeal against the decision of the County Council, which will go to the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board. The Ministry has objected on the grounds that the establishment of the sale yards is contrary to accepted town and country planning practice and the public interest, and would detrimentally affect the health and general welfare of local residents. It is foreseen that the Railways Department might have difficulty in placing staff at Cheviot because it has house properties near the site of the proposed sale yards. Polluted storm water runoff from the sale yards could create a smell and a health hazard on the Rail- ; ways property, fears the I Ministry.

| The Ministry is also concerned that road traffic would be substantially increased at times of sales, increasing noise and endangering children. It is also suggested that concentrations of stock at sale times would result in smell and attract flies, and that roads near houses would be contaminated. The Health Department opposes the project on the grounds of noise, smell, fly breeding, pollution of street drainage, and the siting of the yards close to houses. Mr Murray maintains that drainage is away from the residential area and that, in any event, the association’s intention to spread shingle over the yards as a base and filter would ensure against pollution of a creek, even though it does not flow through the township. Local people are concerned that a project with widespread local support is threatened by “Government department control from Wellington,” according to Mr Murray. The yards are expected to cost about .$30,000. Intending vendors have indicated their willingness to assist with finance, labour and materials.