Proposed hotels in danger zone?

Press, 10 April 1987, Page 9

Proposed hotels in danger zone?

A Christchurch City councillor believes that travellers at hotels built in a proposed tourist hotel zone on the edge of the airport would be in danger.

Cr Ron Wright questioned the placing of the zone at the south-east quadrant of the Memorial Avenue-Russley Road intersection. He claimed the site was “not that far” from the cross-runway of the airport.

The zone is proposed in the Waimairi District’s Reviewed District Planning Scheme. Two or three large hotels in park surroundings are envisaged for the zone. Cr Wright felt the hotel was too close to the airport and could be hit “if something went wrong.” “I firmly believe that

putting a hotel there is wrong,” he said. The airport director, Mr Hugh McCarroll, assured councillors that the safety of the zone was not in question. Civil Aviation regulations dictated restrictions on height and proximity for buildings near the airport. The proposed zone was far enough away and offline from the cross-run-ways so as not to be hampered by restrictions that existed.

The City Council has lodged an appeal against the scheme variation. Mr McCarroll said the objection was made on the ground of noise nuisance so that the Airport Authority could have a say at the hearing. He believed any complaint would be because of noise, not safety.