Industrial zone sought

Press, 23 June 1981, Page 6

Industrial zone sought

An old homestead site in Cumnor Terrace would not be suited to residential development, a Christchurch City Council district scheme review hearing was told yesterday. A representative of Feltex New Zealand, Ltd, said the property adjoining the Heathcote River in Cumnor Terrace would be better used for industrial expansion. That company now has premises in an industrial zone next to the residen-tially-zoned homestead, and bought the adjacent property in 1976. .. : .At present, the Cumnor Terrace land is used for mhrket gardening. An old house and 36 trees on the district - scheme’s, tree protec-tion-list .are also on the property.: A senior council planner, Mr B. N. Alexander, said the 1.97 ha site had some of the biggest and oldest trees in Woolston.

He said many of the trees could be acquired by the council as a reserve contribution if the land were subdivided for residential development under its present zone. \

A riverside walkway could also be created on an unformed legal street between Radley Park and the Radley Street bridge. '

The. Cumnor Terrace 'land had been zoned for residential uses since 1962, and the nearness of other industrial zones that were not fully developed indicated that more industrial land in the neighbourhood was not needed, said Mr Alexander.

But Feltex argued that expansion might be required, especially for a division — Airest Industries — which makes furniture and has just moved to the Cumnor Terrace industrial property.

Expanded industry would provide more opportunities for local jobs, and already

much industry was in the area.

The Cumnor Terrace homestead was on low-lying land that would require expensive filling and drainage to make it., suitable for houses. In another suburban industrial hearing, owners of in-dustrially-zoned land in Aranui argued against that land being included in a residential zone.

The properties are between Breezes Road and Shortland Street. They have been zoned for industrial use since 1962, and I.2ha have been used as a timber yard since the early 1.9505.

Mr Alexander said the zone was now in the heart of a residential area, with nearby schools and a park. The only access was from residential streets. Many industrial uses could be placed on the land as of right if the present zone remained, and they might be

more detrimental to residential areas than the present industries. Present owners had • existing use rights that would allow them to remain on the property for many years under a residential zone. Mr R. A. burns, the managing director of Rabco Industries, said that his business was involved in local community activities, including the contribution of building materials to local schools for trades, craft and art studies. It also sponsored work experience for school leavers, and employed some of below average intelligence who would find it difficult to get jobs. Industrial objectors said their property values would fall under a residential zone.

The largest area that would be affected by a residential zone change is Wainoni Timbers, Ltd, covering 2.9h'>.