PLAN FOR BIG HOUSING PROJECT APPROVED

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 October 1947, Page 4

PLAN FOR BIG HOUSING PROJECT APPROVED

[SPECIAL REPORTER] REEFTON, This Day. Building sites for 118 .State houses, together with a large recreation reserve and a children’s playground, are provided for in the Housing Construction Department’s plan for the subdivision of the Conlon estate (Chattockville) in the township of Reefton, which was approved by the Inangahua County Council at its meeting yesterday. The estate was recently acquired by the Government and the submitting of the final subdivisions! plan to the council is the first move towards fulfilment of the plan to proceed with the erection of the first group of houses. The council several months ago agreed to assist in the levelling of the land for the houses.

The total area of the new housing block is 37 acres 2 roods, and according to the plan received, by the council, it has been divided into 130 units, including 118 building sites, a recreation reserve of four acres and. a large children’s playground. Altogether, 58i chains of road will be required to provide access to the various sections, which are adjacent to the GreymouthReefton railway line, and approximately half a mile from the business area of the town.

When the department’s plan was placed before the, council yesterday, it was pointed out that the main access road in the block was 50 feet wide and the side roads 40 feet. Or W. Blackadder said that, in his opinion 50 feet was too narrow for the main street, especially as the standard street in Reefton was a full chain wide.

Roads Usual Width

Cr F. W. Archer pointed out that they would not be “through” roads and would not carry the same amount of traffic.. The streets on the plan were in conformity with those in similar blocks in Christchurch and Greymouth and he thought the council would find that they were quite in order. The plan had been drawn by the department’s chief surveyor, who would be quite familiar with, conditions in other places. If the council objected, said Cr B. Topp, there would have to be a resurvey of the whole block. He moved that the council approve of the subdivision plan, as submitted. The mo*tion was seconded by Cr F. W. Archer and carried.

The inspector (Mr A. Palmer) reported that during the past month nine building permits, for work valued at £ 1661 10s had been issued on behalf of the council.

' After hearing Mr A. G. Wells, a builder, who waited upon it in connection with several matters, the council decided to insist upon individual connections being made to the

| Reefton sewerage system, except in extraordinary circumstances, and then only by resolution of the council. Mr Wells sought a ruling on the question of water connection fees for new houses being paid in advance. He said that he was not aware until the previous evening that he was required to pay the fees in advance, but if the council insisted, he was quite Prepared to pay the fees in respect of the three houses being built in Munson street. However, he wished to point out that the Housing Department was providing only two sewer connections of three houses in one instance and it appeared’ to be “making flesh of one and fish of another.” Cr Archer said he took it for granted that the department had to abide by the by-laws, just as a private person. . ... , The health authorities pernutted two connections to one sewer, said Cr C. Coxal, but the sewer then became the responsibility of the local authority. , Before he withdrew from the meeting, Mr Wells said that he would pay the fees requested in advance but he still considered it “a very unjust demand.”

Restriction Approved The council then proceeded to discuss the question of the sewer connections referred to by Mr Wells, Cr W. Blackadder expressing the opinion that the department should not attempt to lay drains without consulting the council. Cr G. J. Williams pointed out that the department would have to make application to the council to connect the sewers and then action could be taken.

Cr J. McGregor suggested that it was better to move in advance and to put a motion on the books that only single sewer connections would be permitted. He moved a-motion on the lines indicated above.

The motion was seconded by Cr Archer and carried.