Land sought for housing

Press, 16 June 1982, Page 31

Land sought for housing

Land at the’ corner of Hendersons Road and Sparks Road. Halswell. should be rezoned for residential use so that 23 houses could be built on it. the hearing sub-com-mittee of the Paparua County Council's town-plan-ning district scheme review was told.

Six objectors to the council’s district scheme, review sought the change in zoning. Cross objections were made by the Canterbury United Council, the Christchurch Drainage Board, and 39 residents on the two roads. Mr G. H. Gould, who appeared for an objector. Mr K. A. Bailey, said the land had unique features from a planning point of view as all services were available, such as sewers and perimeter roads. Houses had gone up on the Sparks Road and Hendersons Road frontages.

“This is an island of rural land which has largely escaped by rural development." said Mr Gould. The closeness of houses made farming of the land

difficult. It was not a buffer zone because of the houses on the frontages of the two roads, he said. Mr Bailey said in evidence that the only cattle which could be kept on the land were those used to dogs and people. Crops were “out of the question” because of a fire risk caused by nearby houses.

By far the best use for the area, which had full serives, was Residential 1 development, said Mr Bailey. Mr G. Ogilvie, who appeared for five objectors, said crops such as barley were vandalised by dogs 'and children. The full potential of the land was inhibited by the 75 per cent encirclement of residential land, and the inability to live on the area and keep it under observation, he said.

Mr Ogilvie said that the land offered high-pressure water, rubbish services, and adjacent urban services. Community interests would be best served by upholding the objections.

In a cross-objection, the Canterbury United Council, represented bv Mr F. S. Robinson, said it was the location of rural residential zones which was of concern. Mr Robinson said that the rezoning sought by the objectors was at variance with the Regional and District schemes. To Cr W. J. Baker. Mr Robinson said that it would be better for the land to lie idle rather than be used "in a bad planning situation."

Cr Baker said that he did not think land should be left lying dormant if sound uses for it could be found.

Another cross-objector, the Christchurch Drainage Board, said that the land was within the Heathcote River catchment, which had flooding problems. It was close to an area that was covered by floodwaters in storms. Putting houses on the land would increase the stormwater run-off from the area, said the board's evidence to the sub-committee. A Sparks Road resident.

Mr Barry Hill, who spoke for 38 others said that the land was unsuitable tor housing. It had a high water-table, and there was persistent flooding in heavy rain. After hearing evidence, the sub-committee reserved its decision.

In a second hearing, Mr S. R. Maling represented 14 objectors to the district scheme review who want a special zone for land bounded by Hoon Hay Valley Road and Worsleys Road included in the review. The objectors have proposed a rural-residential development on about 8.5 hectares fronting on to Worsleys Road, and a rural part-time farming zone on the rest of the land which fronts on to’ Hoon Hay Valley Road. Mr Maling said a rural part-time farming zone would reflect present land uses, and those in the future. It would not significantly increase the number of parttime farming allotments within the whole county. The sub-committee, which

again reserved its decision, heard cross-objections from the United Council and the Drainage Board. In evidence, the Drainage Board said that providing drainage services for the area would be difficult. Long lengths of pipe to provide a sewerage system would be "prohibitively high" in cost to maintain, and install, for the number of people concerned. Mr Maling said in a reply that stormwater and sewerage provision could be left to a later stage. It would be up to each owner to provide something that worked. In its third hearing, the subcommittee heard evidence by J. and B. Ryan, of Spreydon Lodge Farm.’ Hendersons Road, who want permission to subdivide their land into five-acre or 10-acre blocks, with building permits. Mr Jack Ryan, who spoke on behalf of his brother, said this would create a buffer zone between high-density housing, and their dairy farm business, which provided

about 700.00(1 litres of milk annually. Mr Ryan said it had become increasingly difficult over the last six or seven years to continue as a dairyunit. During this time housing had extended on both sides of Hendersons Road to within 50 feet of their dairy shed complex. Some problems, said Mr Ryan, were having to move the dairy herd along public roads to daily pasture; and children, and dogs. Cows had been struck bycars. and staff were frequently abused by impatient motorists. Residents and cyclists complained of the mess the herd left on the road. Young children wandered through paddocks, chased weaned calves, teased bulls in their paddock, hid and played in haybarns, and played on tractors and implements. Dogs often worried animals, said Mr Ryan. After hearing evidence, the sub-committee again reserved decision.