Stewarts Gully options

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 4

Stewarts Gully options

About $750,000 will be needed to give 500 Kaianga and Stewarts Gtilly residents sewerage, water, and adequate- reading services, according to a report prepared for the Wainjairi County Council. The report sets out. four options the council could follow in resolving problems of tenure and services for the residents, who want the .council to buy 102 properties owned by Equitable Holdings, Ltd, to give them security of tenure. The company's lease expires next year and will only be renewed on s,rieter and' shorter terms. But the council is cautious about the obligation it would then have to provide costly services to the area. The options are to retain the rural zoning and accept present activities as nonconforming uses; to retain the zone and act to "phase out” the settlements; to zone the area Residential A: or to give it a special zoning.

The report said that the rural options wpuld be frustrated by the new “existing use” provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act which would make “phasing out” difficult. Substantial improvements could not be prevented by the council ' and residents and “health factors” would demand improvements in services. Tjie council would, clearly be adopting a policy contrary to the wishes of most residents in the area and the costs of litigation and Compensation could be high. Residential zoning would require substantial improvements to reading and services, increasing the value of the properties and reducing the present low-cost housing appeal. Subdivision and housing redistribution might not be a viable proposition even though standard and special residential zonings would perImit this.