Kaiapoi decision annoys council

Press, 26 November 1981, Page 2

Kaiapoi decision annoys council

Canterbury United Council members were unhappy yesterday - with a Government reply that rejected Kaiapoi's efforts to get regional development assistance as a designated slow growth area. The reply from the Undersecretary to the Minister for Regional Development (Mr Brill) was unacceptable, said councillors.

Mr Brill had said that economic and social development in Kaiapoi was not significantly different from most other urban areas near cities.

The lack of non-seasonal manufacturing jobs within the borough, which required residents to commute to city jobs, was common to other areas, he said. The thrust of the Government’s programme was to promote regional growth.

Kaiapoi was not remote from the rest of the region, said Mr Brill. Its problems were caused by its proximity to Christchurch, and by national economic difficulties.

The lack of growth in Kaiapoi’s manufacturing base was “relatively temporary,” and the Government’s growth strategies should improve matters. Kaiapoi and similarly sited areas had been vulnerable to restrictions on manufacturing growth, but they would also benefit most from the coming expansion of manufacturing.

Cr I. G. Clark questioned whether the economy was entering a growth phase. He asked where the growth was occurring. Councillors agreed with Cr A. A. Adcock that the letter from Mr Brill should be returned for a better answer. Runway length The United Council was unanimous in expressing concern about the Government’s delay in approving a 1217 m extension to the Christchurch Airport runway, although some councillors questioned whether the delay was costing as much as critics of the delay maintained. Councillors said the Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr McLachlan) should be told that Canterbury was disappointed about the delay. Cr Rex Lester said the delay could' be costing $20,000 a week because inflation would hit the project harder the longer it took to carry through with tendering and construction. Higher profile The United Council’s chairman, Cr C. N. Mackenzie, said that it might be a good time for the regional body to adopt a higher public profile.. If Canterbury interests were to be served properly, it would be a good idea to have the United Council and the region's members of

Parliament thinking and acting along similar lines.

After the election, a meeting will be sought with area M.P.s to draft united stands on specific issues. Cr Lester said the meeting should not be allowed to discuss “a lot of generalities, without anything being resolved.’.’ • Cr Vicki Buck, who was in Wellington yesterday as the United Council’s representative on the Urban Transport Council, intends to call for a sub-committee to identify objectives that would give the regional body “a clear sense of direction and purpose.”

Cr Buck’s notice of motion was deferred until she could be present at next month’s meeting.

She said the council should provide leadership and coordination for the province so that it could make an impact on central and local government, as well as the private sector. “Increasingly,, there are calls for reasoned and documented responses on the effects of proposed legislation, planned developments and a range of social and economic issues,” she said. “There is, however, no framework to guide any response.” “I agree with the idea behind this,” said Cr T. M. Inch. “If we are not .sure where we are going, we are never going to get there. It could do some good to put down on paper what we are here for.”