MANY ADVANTAGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26471, 27 May 1947, Page 6

MANY ADVANTAGES

TOE TAIERI SCHEME RAIL AND ROAD SERVICES CHEAPER DEVELOPMENT COSTS Almost without exception members of the Regional Planning Council during its meetings on Thursday niglu and yesterday expressed full approval of the Taieri development plan for the extension of the metropolitan area of Dunedin. The need for the careful planning of the whole area embracing over 12 square miles of the Taieri Plain was stressed .and members were emphatic that no piecemeal or ribbon development should be permitted. Among the advantages of the plan revealed by members of the council and departmental heads were the fdllowing:— . , . Area Available.—Cr Ireland, chairman of the Works Committee of the City Council, stated that an area of about 12 square miles or between 7000 and 8000 acres was available for industrial and residential development. Building Costs.—Mr R. B. Hammond, assistant director' of the Government Housing Department, told the meeting that the cost of a complete house on the flat at Taieri would be approximately £IOO cheaper per unit than on the hills.—Mr G. Mitchell, on behalf of master builders, added that builders liked to work on the type of land at Mosgiel and Wingatui, conditions being much preferable to the tops of hills where almost blizzards raged at times. „ _ . , Water and Drainage.—Cr Ireland Said it was anticipated that a water supply giving about 1,000,000 gallons a day would be available on the Taieri. The annual deficit on water service to the Blackhead area would be in the nature of £16,000. Water and drainage alone for the CorstorphineBlackhead area would involve the ratepayer in what was equivalent to a 5d rate. The cost of supplying water to the Wingatui area would be considerably less as it could conveniently be given from thp low-level system.—Mr S. G. Scoular, city engineer, stated that new water schemes embraced two new reservoirs at Flagstaff- each of 80,000.000 gallons, and provision of an additional 1,000.000 gallons per day from Powder Creek, an additional 1,000,000 gallons per day to be saved by piping the Silverstream race, ‘and an additional 1,000,000 gallons a day from underground sources. This gave a preliminary estimate of 4,000,000 gallons per day for the same cost as for half this amount for high levels such as the Corstorphine area. The Taieri scheme, Mr Scoular said, was easily provided for in both its water and drainage requirements^ Rail Services.—“l do not know of any area in any part of New Zealand which is so well served by railway as the Taieri Plains,” said Mr Hammond. “You have the main jSoutti railway, the Central Otago railway cutting right through, and from that line you can branch off in 100 directions for sidings to industrial areas.”—Mr W. T. Langbein, district railway engineer,. said it was easy to serve the area both for passenger transport and commercial requirements. It would be possible to join the present Central Otago line with the Outram line. Freight charges would not be more than the present rates for Hutt Valley. . Second-class rail fares would be Is Id to Wingatui, or on a worker’s ticket 4s 5d weekly. —Mr Scoular pointed out that this in effect was 9d per round trip on a weekly basis for Wingatui, whereas the return fate to the present Corstorphine terminal was 9d and to Blackhead would be Is Id per round trip. —“I do not see any reason why a faster and efficient service cannot be given to the area,” said Mr T. Johnston, railway traffic manager. “It must ultimately mean electrification.” Road Communication. —The -.Main South road could serve very well as a connection, Mr Hammond stated, and-.-there was also the North Taieri road. Mr E. J. Garlick;, of the Public Works Department, gave details of the proposed new highway from the top of Lookout Point and going via Kaikorai Valley, behind the southern reservoir, and Abbotsford, and on . towards the Chain Hills. It would have two branches giving a direct access to Wingatui and the aerodrome.—Mr Ireland said the proposed new highway would cut the distance from the city to six miles 59 chains. General Advantages.—Mr Ireland stressed the better climate on the Taieri compared with the city. Everyone in the new area, he said, would have an excellent garden.—Mr G. T. Edgar, city electrical engineer, said that he could see. no difficulties m supplying the area with electricity. It would be less expensive-than supplying Blackhead as direct lines would pass through it.—Mr H. A. Adams, of the Lands and Survey .Department, pointed out the greater ease of subdividing. ' . Official Enthusiasm.—“ The more I see of the Taieri Plains the more I am in favour of something really big for Dunedin,” said Mr Hammond. “It is necessary to plan big and build big,” he added. ’