Expressway opposed

Press, 24 April 1980, Page 6

Expressway opposed

The proposed Opawa RoadPort Hills Road expressway should be abandoned, according to the Heathcote County Council. The council last evening accepted a recommendation by its planning hearings subcommittee to remove the expressway from its reviewed district scheme and lift property designations related to it. A formal decision drawn up by the county's townplanning consultant ana council staff will be prepared for adoption. The decision, was being taken because of uncertainty that the proposal would go ahead in the next planning period, said the County Chairman (Mr J. M. McKenzie). “It is unfair that a designation should be on these properties if there is uncertainty,” he said. It has been

on the propiarties since 1 968 ’ ' . u Cr W. M. Hupdmarsh said the council wap taking the unusual step of 'adopting the recommendation now because it had been ask fd by certain propertv owners either to: buy their land or lift the designation. ! There was uncertainty as to: whether the cottncil was the' designating authority, Mr Me-1 Kenzie said. Hb suggested; there might klave to be! another hearing. i Mr McKenzie said the; Heathcote County would' argue that it vvas an “unwilling bride” ovter the desig-[ nations, directed’, by a higherauthority. He vitas referring to possible provisions in the. Canterbury Regional Scheme or Ministry of. Works proposals. “We want our intentions made known r tow so that they will give factual credence to any pother repre-l

sentations made to othen hearings,” he told the council.