THE HARBOUR BRIDGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 18 September 1929, Page 13

THE HARBOUR BRIDGE.

SELECTION OF THE SITE.

REGIONAL PLANNING ASPECT.

FULL INVESTIGATION URGED.

The necessity for carrying out regional planning before the harbour bridge site is chosen is urged in a letter to be forwarded to the Director of Town Planning by the Auckland Town-planning Association. It is pointed out that although the construction of the bridge is not opposed the site should not bo selected unless due regard is given to a comprehensive planning on both shores of the Waitemata Harbour. "While this association desires that Iho fullest investigation should be made of the bridge proposal, in the . hope that- it may bo realised, it feels there are objections to the suggested procedure for locating the site," the letter states. "In the opinion of this association the construction of the harbour bridge would prove to he the vital connection between the planning of the northern and southern shores of the Waitemata Harbour, and as such, the location of the bridge is essentially a function of the regional planning committee." A regional planning committee was shortly lo be formed in Auckland, comprising representatives of local authorities from Papakura to Henderson. Its duties would be to plan the major activities of (he region and to devise methods for financing them. The bridge site was a major regional activity and could not be considered v.'ilhout an extensive survey of the whole region, with particular reference to the main traffic routes, both local and provincial. It was more important to make the bridge and consequential works fit the regional plan than to embark on costly street reconstruction schemes to uiake the plan fit the bridge. Regional planning on both sides of the harbour should be expedited in its relation to the proposed bridge site. The association's comments were in no sense antagonistic to the bridge scheme, although it was believed if the proposal were studied on the lines suggested more support would be accorded it.