Draft bill for Port Hills

Press, 20 December 1985, Page 4

Draft bill for Port Hills

Interested groups are being invited to comment on a draft bill which aims to co-ordinate management plans for protected land on the Port Hills.

The bill would revise the 1963 Summit Road Protection Act and would tune management of separate reserves in the Summit Road area. The Summit Road Advisory Committee will meet with affected landowners, local authorities, interest groups and Government de-

partments seeking input before the bill is presented to Parliament. The Canterbury United Council oversees the administration of the area and is assisted by the committee. The draft bill aims at protecting, and improving views of the Port Hills by limiting the amount of building on or near protected land and encouraging grouping of any necessary structures. Farming on protected land and adjacent areas

would also be encouraged. A management plan would be prepared within five years of the bill becoming law. The plan would apply to private and pub-licly-owned land and would include an over all assessment of land use and resources.

The council may declare land it considers appropriate as “protected” subject to submissions and objections by any, authority or person affected by the dessignation. _

The draft bill provides tor the council to have first option on protected land that was for sale and while it would not compel the council to buy land it would consider any that was available.

Any building or planning applications would be made to the United Council. The six local authorities with protected land would direct applicants to the United Council and identify protected land on their planning maps.

It is expected that the bill will be presented to Parliament about the middle of next year after discussions with interested groups.