Gondola least approved for Port Hills

Press, 9 March 1988, Page 9

Gondola least approved for Port Hills

KAY FORRESTER,

City Council reporter

I I '- ' I The developer of the Port Hills gondola yesterday got good news as it awaits the Planning Tribunal’s decision on its appeal against the three Christchurch councils who declined their planning applications for the project.

The Christchurch City Council’s parks and recreation committee yes- ! terday approved the ap-' plication for a lease of part of the Mount Cavendish Reserve for the top station of the gondola. The committee recommended to the council that Payeo Developments, Ltd, be granted the lease, associated easements for the cableway and services, and a licence for the construction site. The approval is only the first step to getting the lease, however. After a final council decision, the lease will be referred to the Minister of Conservation via the Conservation

Department. The committee’s .approval was tagged . with several conditions, including a performance bond, maintenarice guarantees, rent reviews and protection of the reserve. Mr Peter Yeoman, a engineer, who is pa director of Payeo Developm'ents, told the meeting that he believed details of Renewals for the lease were to be written into it. J The council last July received [advice that all matters to do with a lease of the reserve should be referred to the Conservation Department. However, the! department has

i directed it to first hear the lease application as the administering body bf the reserve. The - council’s reserves hearing panel has already heard a planning application on the use of the reserve. In June the council adopted that panel’s recommendation that the application be approved. The Canterbury United Council, [Lyttelton Borough Council and Heathcote County ijave declined the developer’s planning applications j for the gondola. An appeal before the [ Planping Tribunal has been heard and a decision is expected next month. I I I