Hearing into cinema plan

Press, 27 November 1987, Page 3

Hearing into cinema plan

By

JANE DUNBAR

Noise, flickering lights, reflection and glare are some of the concerns expressed by objectors to the proposed twin drive-in cinema complex at Wairakei Road.

Five objections were heard, four in writing and one in person, at a Waimairi District Council town planning hearing yesterday. The hearing was to consider Variety Leisure Corporation, Ltd’s, application to build two projection screens higher than allowed under recession plane regulations. The screens could be a nuisance because of shading during part of the day, and could also cause glare through the reflection of sunlight, said an objector, Mr W. Davies, from Teesdale Street.

Noise from 500 cars assembled in one place, and the potential misbehaviour of patrons was also a matter of great concern, he said.

Variety Leisure has proposed to plant a substantial number of trees on the southern boundary of the complex which should grow to 10m to 15m within 10 years. The height of the proposed screen is 22.5 m.

The hearing’s commissioner, Mr John Hannafin, suggested that to reduce the reflection of light, a reasonable sized planting should be done as soon as possible. The assistant planner for Waimairi, Mrs Norton, gave the project a favourable report. The commissioner, Mr Hannafin, will report his decision to the Waimairi town planning committee on December 3.