MANY PROBLEMS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4104, 23 February 1949, Page 8

MANY PROBLEMS

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC COROMANDEL COUNTY PLANS SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL The abandoned lands at Coromandel, a source of interest to people all over New Zealand and the subject ftr proposed legislation during the coining session of Parliament, were discussed at the February meeting of the Coromandel County Council, when the county clerk, Mr J. H. Lucas, showed the plans which had been prepared for the Land and Survey Department.

The indiscriminate subdivision of property by private persons in the past had brought about this state of affairs and he thought it greatly to be regretted that all the valuable information that could have been made use of in regards to planning even 100 years ago was not made use of in the early days, reported Mr Lucas. “ Planning for the future is now more than ever the work or science for specialists who are trained to consider every possible aspect that can be brought to bear upon the need of people living in a community together,” he continued. “ I have said before that a surveyor is not necessarily a planner, and whilst many licensed and trained surveyors may be able to do a great job of work the complexity of problems confronting the planner for our future towns and villages is one of the greatest responsibilities that anyone can take on. It is extremely hard to plan an entirely new place from nothing but to attempt the replanning is much greater and that to my mind is why the present extra urban scheme for Coromandel must be thought of in conjunction with this abandoned lands job that I have been working on for so long.”

Eight plans of the various towns in and around Coromandel had been drawn up. Altogether there were 735 unpaid rates on lots in the eight townships while rates paid by people other than the owners of the titles totalled 1068.

In Bayview, which is one of the smaller towns, all rates were paid up but there were seven lots to which the titles were not in the names of the people paying the rates and using the property. Belleville, locally known as the Top Town, had 28 lots with rates unpaid and the rates on 16 other lots paid by people who did not own them. Buffalo, in the middle of the old town, had two lots with unpaid rates. Coromandel town, the main business area between Coromandel Hotel and Fureys bridge, possessed more valuable properties and the abandoned lands there were negligible, only four properties being scheduled. Some areas were shown on the plan as “ title obscure ”; two areas had one title number, the areas not being contiguous, and one part shown on some plans as a road was doubtful. “ There is an area of road included in grass paddock but it would not be wise to suggest closing it as it gives direct access to the harbour,”* stated the clerk.

Kapanga, the main residential area between the Coromandel Hotel and the TaumStawahine creek, north of the Presbyterian Church, had approximately 40 lots on which no rates were collected and 79 which were not in the names of people who paid and occupied. “ A number of these lots are not of the best residential sites and being again on the extremely small size, two or three or more are required to obtain a reasonable residence site. A large area of roads are in grass and if the land is not to be used as building sites then the roads should be closed and sold and so become rateable. Some of the area is unsuitable for building unless it 'became that a population such as Wellington was needed, where houses are built almost on top of one another,” continued Mr Lucas.

Kingston, a mile along the main road to Thames from the Bank corner was a perfect example of grid iron planning without considering the lay of the land, stated the report. “It is probable that the areas were never pegged or laid out on the ground at all. Part of it facing north is now under the tide. There are 95 lots on which no rates are paid and 366 approximately on which rates are paid by other than the registered owner. The total area of roads must be somewhere round 30 acres of which it would be absurd to think of construcing,” he added. Some outstanding problems were with North Wynyardton, which is situated to the north-west of Coromandel Poet Office and is approached hy what is known as the

Hauraki road. Here again it is doubtful if any survey was made on the ground; the roads and sections form quite a good geometrical pattern on paper, lots are exceedingly small and of various shapes; some are held in individual ownership. Rates have always been paid by the registered owner but I doubt whether the owner has any idea of the locality of the section. There are 68 lots on which no rates are paid and 93 lots on which rates are paid ’by other than the registered owner.” • Wynyardton or Wynyardton South lies to the north-west of Kauri block and adjoins Wynyardton North, is bounded l>v Coromandel harbour on its south-west and is determined in, position by the legal surveyed road to Long Bay which was made a few years ago. This road survey cuts across sections and paper roads, leaving certain sections and lots on the seaward side which are below high water mark. The problem here is the multiplicity of planned roads totalling approximately 30 to 40 acres, which are evidently all legal. Thera were 502 lots on which no rates were paid and three lots on which rates were paid by other than the registered owners. Officers of the Lands and Survey Department are expected to visit Coromandel in connection with this matter before it goes before the House. Dozens of people all over New Zealand, mainly those who have retired, are writing, making enquiries for small sections for sale. At the council meeting it was pro- . posed by the chairman, Mr E. Deeble, seconded by Cr. F. H. Purdom, that it be placed on record that the council appreciates the amount of work put in by the county clerk, Mr J. H. Lucas, which culminated in the report presented at the meeting. Mr Lucas had been instrumental in making the first start on the question of abandoned lands. He had been supported by the Coromandel County Council and. later, by the Coromandel Chamber of Commerce.