Regional Planning

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7241, 12 June 1930, Page 3

Regional Planning

OROUA COUNTY’S VIEWS. At yesterday’s meeting of the Oroua County Council, the chairman (Cr. A. Campbell) reported on the recent conference held in Palmerston North regarding regional planning and stated that he was impressed with the aims and objects of the legislation, which as far as he could see, would confer great benefits on the community as a whole in time to come. It was proposed to strike a rate ,of a fifth of a penny in the £ on the capital value of the wholo regional area to' cover the cost of tlio preparation of plans, the drawing up of reports, etc. He was impressed .with the comprehensive activities of the scheme where iff* would obviate such mistakes as laying low power electric lines to servo a town or district which in a short space of time required higher powered lines. In a ease such as this, regional planning operations would take into consideration the disposition of population, its likclv growth and other factors which would enable the preparation of reports which would serve as a guide to the future requirements of a district. The sub-division and roading of properties was another aspect of the objects coming within the scope of regional planning, while tlio location and establishment of base hospitals also came within the general scheme. The meeting agreed that Palmerston North should be the centre of the regional area affecting this district and it was likely that certain East Coast counties and towns, such as Danncvirko and Akitio, would be brought info the area. In answer to Cr. O. McElrov, flic chairman said that the rate was not an annual one.

In the opinion of Cr. McElroy. there did not appear to be any community of interest; between Dannevirko and Palmerston North, and he wondered whether the regional planning authorities would have power to interfere with the width of dedicated roads and other purely county matters. The chairman said that he understood that the regional planning authorities would collect data, prepare plans upon which would be based their recommendations which, he felt, would be submitted for the guidance of local authorities who would be expected to conform to the requirements, in terms of the legislative authority which empowered the creation of town and regional planning boards. The council thanked the chairman for his report.