Council in second bid to buy university land

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 8

Council in second bid to buy university land

An urgent, second attempt to buy land owned by the University of Canterbury before it is offered for auction will be made by the Waimairi District Council. The council wants the residential land at the corner of Waimairi Road and Peer Street for a reserve. The residential lot, and several others in the block, will be auctioned on February 18. Cr Brian Shackel told the council’s works, reserves and traffic committee yesterday that a sub-committee had been unsuccessful in negotiations with the University Council for the land. He said two lots in the subdivision had been discussed but the corner site was of most interest to the District Council. The university could not legally give the land away. The council had already accepted a small lot containing the walkway between Peer Street and Athol Terrace as the reserve contribution for the subdivision. Cr Shackel said it was unlikely the council could pay the market value of the corner section. The council would probably have to pay $150,000 to buy both the comer

section and another lot on Peer Street, when the land would have only aesthetic value to the council. The District Chairman, Mrs Margaret Murray, said the land would be needed for its “open space” effect next to a main .road. Motorists travelling south on Grahams Road had open spaces until they crossed Memorial Avenue and entered a "tight residential area.” Open spaces at the southern end would help balance the route. Another sub-committee will again try to obtain the land before the public auction. Possible options are buying the land with the help of other interested parties or buying only part of the section. Waimakariri bridge A paint additive was reponsible for paint flaking off the railings on the old Waimakariri bridge 18 months after it was applied, the committee was told: An analysis of the paint by its manufacturer showed a filling compound had been added to the paint, making it too thick. The filler had been added by the contractor

when the bridge was painted in March, 1984. It was not known where the contractor was now living. The committee was told it would cost about $4OOO to repaint the bridge. The cost would be shared by the Eyre County Council, The District Engineer, Mr John Lamb, said repainting the railings was not urgent and . could be left for another year. Speed A blitz on speeding cars at the Belfast end of Johns Road netted 235 vehicles in December and January. The committee had told the Ministry of Transport it was concerned about the speed of vehicles on the built-up portion of Johns Road. The area carried a 50 km/h restriction. In his monthly report. Chief Traffic Officer Bill Noster told the committee that extensive use of microwave units, digitectors, and car patrols was made to reduce traffic speed. Most of those caught were driving cars. Only five heavy motor-vehicles were stopped. He said many drivers using the road exceeded the limit. Some travelled at more than 100 km/h.

Some drivers who had been stopped and issued with offence notices were caught again only a few days later. Several residents in the area were also stopped for speeding.

Chief Traffic Officer Noster said enforcement was not a final answer to the problem as it had not deterred motorists from speeding. He said the high standard of the road and the absence of housing on the northern side probably made it attractive to drivers to exceed the limit.