TOWN PLANNING

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 108, 2 November 1929, Page 18

TOWN PLANNING

LOCAL BODY SCHEMES

EXTENSION OF TIME

MODEL FOR GUIDANCE

Au amendment of the Town Planning j ~\cb was introduced into tlio House of Kepresentatives on Thursday by tho Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle). One of the principal provisions relates fo tho extension of time for the preparation of town-planning schemes. By the Town Planning Act, 1926, borough councils are under statutory obligation to complete tho preparation of town-planning schemes before Ist January, 1930. As it is impossible to comply with this requirement, Clause 3" of the Bill provides for an extension of time. This may be done by Order-in-Council. The time fixed for the preparation of a borough' scheme.may ' at anytime be extended by the GovernorGeneral by Order-in-Council if it appears to him that the council, using all reasonable diligence, will be unable to complete theseheme within the time. Another clause provides that pending the completion and approval of a scheme under the principal Act, a local authority may prohibit tho erection of any building or the carrying out of my work that would contravene the scheme. In a memorandum to the Bill it is explained that the term "regional planning scheme" as used in the 1926 Act is not used in the true technical sense of the term... As it is now intended to make provision for the preparation of regional planning schemes in the true sense, it has been necessary, in order to avoid confusion, to apply a new name to the schemes referred to in the present law as "regional planning schemes," which, generally' speaking, are complementary to town-planning schemes and are designed for areas which, though not within the boundaries of a borough, have certain urban characteristics; The name proposed is "extra-urban planning schemes." REGIONAL SCHEMES. Part 2 of the Bill deals with regional planning schemes. It is designed to serve as a model for the guidance of local authorities, and the adoption of its proposals is not made compulsory. Every^regional planning scheme is to have for its general purpose the conservation and economic development of the natural resources of the region to which it relates, by means of the classification of the lands within the area for the purposes for which they are best suited by Nature, or for which they can best bo adapted, and by the co-ordina-tion of air such public improvements, utilities, services, and amenities as are not limited by the boundaries of the district of any one local authority, or do not relate exclusively to tho development of any one such district. Every regional planning scheme is to be precoded by a comprehensive survey of the natural resources of the area to which it relates and of the present and potential uses and Values of all lands within the region in relation to national, regional, or local public utilities, services, and amenities. Local authorities may unite in the preparation of a regional planning scheme, and in fixing tho boundaries of any region for the purposes of a scheme regard is to_ be! had to natural geographic boundaries and 'to common social -and interests, and, in cases of conflict, such considerations are to prevail over considerations based on the existing boundaries of the districts of the uniting local authorities. For the purposes of every regional planning scheme, a regional planning committee is to be appointed consisting of a representative or representatives of the several local authorities concerned. The council of every borough having a population of not less than 10,000, and situated wholly or partly • within the region, shall havo two members; the council of every other borough- and of every county situated wholly or partly .within the region shall have one member; and the town board of every town district not forming part of a county, one member. If a local authority failSr to appoint a member within thirty days after being called upon to do so by the Town Planning Board, tho Governor-General, acting on tho recommendation of the Minister of Internal Affairs, . may make the appointment. Persons considered to possess expert knowledge may be associated with a regional committee, also representatives of Government Departments, local authorities, and sporting bodies. The committee is to prepare a survey of the natural resources of a region as a preliminary to the preparation of a scheme. Every regional scheme is to be submitted to the Town Planning Board for approval. After the completion of a regional planning scheme a committee is to be in the position of giving advice with respect to town-planning and extra-urban planning schemes, for areas, within the region. A committee is to prepare an estimate of the cost of preparation of regional planning schemes for submission to the local authorities, and except with tho consent of the local authorities concerned, the cost is not to exceed tho amount which would be produced by a rate of of a penny in the £ on the capital value of all rateable property ' within the region. \ MEETING THE COST, Power is given to the Town Planning Board ,to appoint a principal local authority which shall be responsible for expenditure incurred by a regional planning committee. Uniting local authorities are to contribute towards the cost of preparing a regional 'planning scheme, and if they fail to agree as to the proportions the GovernorGeneral, ,by Order-in-Council, may apportion the cost. Matters to be dealt with in regional planning schemes are:— - (1). Communications and transport facilities: (a) Railways; (b) first and second class arterial and regional roads; (c) omnibus and tram routes; (d) harbours and navigable waterways; (c) airports. . - (2). Zoning: (a) Allocation of areas for (i) urban development, differentiating where possible between residential, business, and industrial areas, with special reference to offensive trades; (ii) agricultural purposes, specifying the particular form ,of land-utilisation recommended, including afforestation; (b) recommendations as to buildinglines and the maximum height and bulk of buildings to be prescribed in the statutory town-planning schemes within the region. (3). Public utilities: (a) Landdrainage, sewerage and sewage disposal; (b) water-supply, including catchment areas; (c) electricity and gas generation and distribution. (4). Amenities: (a) Public parks and reserves and recreational facilities(b) preservation of places of historical or archaeological interest or natural beauty; (c) recommendations for the control of outdoor advertising. '