Development of Hutt Valley

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 15, 3 April 1946, Page 4

Development of Hutt Valley

Mil. SEMPLE OUTLINES PLANS. HU<!K EXPENDITUKK PROPOSED

One of the most representative whole scheme was ready for action

gatherings ever held in Lower Hutt took place last week, when Mr. It. Semple, Minister of Works, addressed about 160 business’ and professional men and representatives of various local bodies in the Hutt Valley. The function took the form of a dinner-meeting, and was arranged by the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and Industry, whose president, Mr. Eric Tomkies, presided. In welcoming the visitors Mr. Tomkies said the large attendance showed a healthy interest in Hutt Valley affairs. j Mr. W. Nash, Minister of Finance, sa\id that no one had done more than Mr\ Semple in regard to roads and railways in New Zealand. He congratulated the Chamber of Commerce on t.he\magnificent work it had done and wished it well in the future. Mr. W. \H. Hindle, president of the Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand, made a strong appeal for co-operation, which was the best way of solving the many problems facing world to-day. They should especially \encourage a co-op-erative movement \imong the children. Mr. Semple’s A'vddress Mr. Semple, whose Isubject was “The Planned Development of the Hutt Valley,’ said he deemed it a privilege to talk of planning of such a rich and smiling valley.\ He congratulated the Chamber and \the City Council on the part they liat# played in the progress of the district; they had always been ready Lo cooperate. The population of the Vlutt Valley had increased 50 per c<pnt. every ten years; no other distinct had grown so rapidly. Major industries, too, had shown remarkable), growth—from 10 in 1920 to 23 in 1930, and an additional 20 since 1935, largely because of Government encouragement. Since the inception of the housing scheme 3120 State houses had been completed, and there were now 850 under construction, while sufficient land was held for an additional 3500 houses. Transport was a great problem. Railway passengers had increased from 7,000,000 in 1937-38 to 14,900GOO in 1944-45, and were still increasing. Freight charges liad increased from 82,000 tons to 1 27,000 tons. Timber brought in had increased from 63,000,000 super feet to 135,000,000 feet. The railway revenue had jumped from £120,000 to £310,000. They were going to electrify the railway to cope with the ever-growing traffic. In 1936 the Lower Hutt City Council appointed a Town Planning Officer, and is to be congratulated on its progressive policy Prospective Population of 100,000 The lower portion of the Hutt Valley was approaching saturation point. If. was estimated that, the whole Valley would accommodate 160,000 people. Plans had been made for the scientific development of the upper valley, leaving open spaces for schools, civic centres, recreation grounds and other social amenities. They must not continue the mistakes of the past. There were many things to oe done, one of the most important being the Hutt river. River erosion was an increasing problem, and must be dealt with in a bigger way than by stop-banks. The Government had set up 13 Catchment Hoards in New Zealand, and had purchased super drag lines which would remove the deposits at the mouths of rivers. The electrification of the railway i

iii the Hutt Valley was estimated to cost £4,000,000. Power was needed for this work, as w r ell as for houses and industries. The Government was speeding the development of hydro-electric power in New Zealand On the Waikato river there were ten stations within 117 miles, thus they were using the water over and over again, and there was a, new scheme contemplated in Otago. “The coal supply of this country is very shaky, very shaky indeed,” said Mr. Semple. “It. is petering out. We have not 15 years’ supply of high "class coal in sight. We must have power, and must find it elsewhere, from water.”

Mr. Semple said that the cost of carrying out the plans for Lower Hutt would he £2,500,000, in addition to the £4,000,000 for the electrification of the railway. Among the proposals were a modern highway right through the valley, an overhead railway bridge at. Petone, and three more bridges over the river to give proper access. The

There would be no slacking; the development of the Valley would go on even more rapidly when material was available. State Housing Areas. Mr. It. IT Hammond. AssistantDirector of Housing, presented plans of the proposed works. He said that since the housing scheme was started in .1.937 much of the work had been completed at Hpuni, Naenae, Waddington and Taita. Full provision had been made for reserves in consultation with the Lower Hutt City Council, and at Waiwlietu a reserve would be ready during the coming winter. Along the railway provision liHd been made for overhead bridges, one at Waterloo, one at Hark Avenue, and one between Naenae and Taita. Provision had also been made for industrial sites, one in Naenae, and another was under consideration north of Naenae in the Taita area. The development of the Trentham camp area was based on the most modern conception. There would be an industrial area of about 100 acres, and the balance of 420 acres would be used for housing. Certain streets had been planned to discourage outside traffic, and the reserve system would filter through the whole block, residents being able to enter the reserves without going into the traffic street. The basic principle of the scheme was quite new to New Zealand. Mr Hammond showed photographs of the proposed shopping and community area at Naenae. An innovation was that the whole shopping area was in an enclosed court, no motor or vehicular traffic being allowed in that area. The shops vyould front on the court and cars woyuld go around it. There was provision for children's playgrounds, wlierij children could be left, safely by thudr mothers. There would be shops, (offices and two cinemas. It was holpert that, the scheme would be carried to fruition before long. Subsidiarjv shopping and community centres wfpuld be provided at Taita and Waddington, and would be big enough for. those communities. The final \ proposals for Naenae as outlined l*,>y Mr. Hammond, envisage a population of about 20,000 people. Besides the main centre, local shops will', he zoned to provide for groceries, milk, meat, tobacco, etc. A tunnel vjill bring train passengers underneath the railway and motor highway tp the centre. The civic centre will b-e formed by three squares connected ,by covered ways. Besides food shopb the first will bouse stores catering for everyday needs. The second v|-ill contain shops for such as millincirs, dressmakers, barbers and tailors.! The buildings will include the hafil, library, rending rooms, civic offices, health services, State Advances), and other departmental agencies, postal services and bus Terminus. }

Questions Answered In reply to si. question as to whether provision would! he made in Lower Huff. .for a rail>yay station worthy of the city, Mr. fpemple replied that a railway station would not. he stuck miles away. There would not he a great distance between stations and the electric train stops would he very frequent t.

Another member of the aVidience stated that with all the planning there was grave danger of the bus transport breaking down. Something would have to be done to avotjd this. Mr. Semple replied that big orders for new buses had been plac’ed in England, and until they arrived, which lie hoped would be soon, they would have to do the best 'they could with the buses available, j

In reply to further it was stated that no provision had so far been made for air strips in :the town planning schemes: only servicemen may purchase sections for houses in the State house area's; there must be a, right proportion ( of commercial and industrial units to population, in order to serve tiie people adequately: modern methods of transport, whether trolley hu ®s or other means, must he provided ijo feed the railways; the reclaimed ground at the mouth of the riveV would become available for heavy 1 ; industries when the buildings were! removed: the development of the Wainui Valley' had not. yet. been j planned—“we must finish that hole through the hill first,” said Mr. Semple.