THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a newspaper. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3, 1947. Town Planning And Weaver's

Northern Advocate, 3 December 1947, Page 4

THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a newspaper. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3, 1947. Town Planning And Weaver's

The newly-elected Borough Council, at its first meeting, held last evening, raised the important question of town planning, and indication was given that the application in Whangarei of the principles of the science is to be given practical consideration.

The time is long overdue for move in this direction to be mad

had the founders of settlement in Whangarei foreseen the size to whicn the town was destined to grow they would no doubt have taken a longer view of planning requirements. However, Whangarei’s pioneers were no exceptions to the general rule of town controllers in those days, for settlement of a young country was invariably conducted on day-to-day and hand-to-mouth principles.

As a consequence, incalculable inconvenience and expense have been incurred in all towns and cities that have grown to lai'ge dimensions, for major alterations of streets and services and the acquisition of open spaces at tremendously enhanced values have been inescapable, whereas if town planning had been adopted at the outset a different and happier story would have been told. Whangarei’s situation has created exceptional difficulties, as growth of population has taken place year by year.

Narrow in the waist, the upper and lower extremities of the town have so expanded that, in a sense, two zones, each of which will be densely populated in days to come, require in some cases almost duplicated amenities for business and pleasure. To meet these requirements in a manner which will overcome the difficulties created by lack of town planning when Whangarei was in its infancy calls for action which will become more costly the longer it is delayed.

Transport, drainage, water supply, roading, recreational open spaces, arc but some of the questions with which the City Fathers must deal: hence the need for employment of town planning principles as soon as may be.

We are glad to note in this connection that the Borough Council last evening took a step which is in accordance with its intention to make use of town planning principles.

This step concerns the future of the Weaver property in Rust Lane and adjoining the High School playing fields and Rugby Park.

The council decided that the Mayor should convene a public meeting of sporting bodies and other interested organisations to consider whether the property should be purchased and thus be preserved as a recreational open space for Whangarei’s population. ft is unnecessary to review what has been said and done about acquiring for public purposes what is the only remaining suitable area in the southern portion of the town, but the fact that it is still available to the people if they desire it renders imperative definite action on their part, and the Mayor and councillors are to be commended for the action they took last evening. The configuration of Whangarei, to which we have referred, demands that there should be playing fields and open space in the southern zone and in the northern zone of the town. The Borough Council has recognised the needs of the northern zone by taking steps to provide playing fields at Kensington Park. The council is doubtless anxious that similar provision should be made for the large population which already exists in the southern zone and which will extend still further in the direction of the hospital and the area surrounding and beyond that institution.

An asset of great potential value is for the time being available to Whangarei, and, it would be a thousand pities if it were irretrievably lost, as it would be if it were devoted to the purposes of house building. It is to be hoped that a real community spirit will move everybody in the approach to a question of prime importance to the Whangarei of today and tomorrow and which comes definitely within the scope of town planning.