Council’s plan draws criticism

Press, 19 August 1982, Page 12

Council’s plan draws criticism

Criticisms have been directed at the Paparua County Council for sacrificing the needs of industry to those of nearby residents in a reviewed district scheme.

The council s town planning sub-committee has received 20 objections to the industrial planning provisions contained within the reviewed scheme for the Hornby 'area, and Paparua's rural districts.

Almost all were lodged by industrial concerns. Five, however, were withdrawn at the hearing after proposed amendments to the scheme.

The county planner. Mr K. Lawn, said that the aim had been to reduce the impact of industrial activity on surrounding residential zones while recognising the needs of existing industries, and allowing for their

expansion. The objectives were not always compatible, particularly where the different uses intersected. he said.

The director of Leemark Holdings. Ltd, Mr C. E. Lee. said that industry should not be made to play second fiddle to residents’ interests if it was a predominant use.

He was objecting to the nuisance restrictions placed on a property at Halswell Junction Road which the company leased to Autosand Holdings, Ltd — a timber working concern. The company had bought the site in 1953 “after consultation with the local authorities concerned" and had developed it “at considerable capital expense," he told the hearing. There had been no houses

in the area “in the early days of the company's operations." but the council had since permitted residential development “right up to the other side of the road." Mr Lee said that the “difficulties of conflict" which had emerged were a result of the council’s policies, and not of any action on the part of the company.

The noise levels imposed in the scheme were impracticable, he said, and the company “was entitled to maintain an Industrial 3 zoning." The residents had boughttheir sections knowing that there was industrial activity in the vicinity, he told the hearing. Toyota New Zealand (Christchurch), Ltd — formerly Steel Bros, Ltd — opposed the planned rezoning of the rear of its vehicle assembly plant site in Bu-

chanans Road. Mr Lawn had recommended that the proposed Industrial 2 zoning be modified to exempt the company's activities, but the manufacturing manager. Mr P. F. O’Halloran. said that this would not allow sufficiently for long-term planning. The factory had been working for 20 years and had not “to date caused any significant problem to adjoining residential areas," he said.

It had voluntarily provided a 28-metre. attractively landscaped, buffer zone at the front of the property. Mr O'Halloran said that Toyota had begun a $3million “modernisation and expansion programme," which it might not have done had it known that its plans could be “delayed or even jeopardised by town planning

procedures.' The motor vehicle assembly industry was. he said, susceptible' to rapid change, and must be free to adjust accordingly. Other industrial concerns to lodge objections were: Waitaki N.Z. Refrigerating. Ltd. Alex Harvey Industries. Ltd, and Dominion Motors. Ltd.

The committee also received five submissions in support of the reviewed scheme.

A Halswell Junction Road resident. Mr C. J. Dunn, said that the council should impose stricter limits on noise pollution. He had lived opposite a saw mill for eight years and had found the noise levels “extremely anti-social" and a risk to health.

“The sound was quite inescapable." he told the hearing.