Travis Swamp land returns to mortgagee

Press, 27 February 1980, Page 1

Travis Swamp land returns to mortgagee

Almost 77ha of land in the Travis Swamp at Burwood was passed in at a mortgagee auction yesterday for $324,500 (about $4214 a hectare or $1706 an acre). The sole bid was made

before the auction by the mortgagee, Mr E. R. A. Florance, who became the owner of the land again.

Mr Florance, now a farmer at Culverden, ran a dairy farm on the land for 40 years before selling it for about $1 million in late 1974 to Christchurch Estates, Ltd, which collapsed in December, 1978. The firm still owes Mr Florance more than $380,000. The land, which is in six titles zoned residential Al, is about a third of the proposed Sandringham residential development. It is bounded by Travis Road,

Frosts Road, and Mairehau Road and is near Queen Elizabeth II Park. It has been estimated that besides recreational and community facilities, the area would yield about 900 sections of between 600 sq m and 750 sq. m. Plans have already been made for a primary school and intermediate school, a bowling club, a church, playing fields, a kindergarten, and a village centre. However, under the Waimairi County Council’s district scheme, the area may be developed only in conjunction with the rest of the proposed Sandringham area which, is still owned by Christchurch Estates. The area would also have to be filled before development could begin. The downturn in the economy had made the venture a failure in the meantime, said the auctioneer, Mr C. Robertson, of Sherris and Robertson, Ltd. But it was hoped that Sandringham could come into being. Mr P. Yeoman, of Davis, Ogilvie and Partners, consulting engineers and surveyors, said the area would be needed for sections

within about 18 months because of a growing shortage of land in Christchurch. Mr Florance said he would wait for offers in the meantime.