RAILWAY STATION SITE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1009, 27 June 1930, Page 12

RAILWAY STATION SITE

AMENDED SCHEME FOR SUBDIVISION

CITY ENGINEER’S PLAN An amended scheme to the plan proposed by the General Manager of Railways. Mr. H. H. Sterling. for the subdivision of the present railway station site. was placed before the City Council last evening. Reporting, the City Engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, said that the scheme of subdivision submitted by the general manager or railways showed three roadways 66 feet wide, two running from Customs Street to Quay Street and being generally the extension of Commerce and Gore Streets, and one parallel to Customs Street connecting Gore Street extension with Breakwater Road. This would necessitate the acquisition of property valued at .£58,150, but no allowance had been made for compensation due for disturbance of business, which in one case would probably be not less than £BO,OOO. An alternative proposal by Mr. Tyler, involving the swinging of Commerce Street extension slightly, required 33 feet less frontage in Quay Street, making a saving of £16,500 for property, and also saving the disturbance of business above-mentioned, making a total saving of, say, £96,500, and in view of this he was of the opinion that the council would not be justified in extending Commerce Street on the lines submitted by the General Manager of Railways. At a conference with the Mayor, the chairman of the Harbour Board proposed that a right-of-way 3 5 feet wide be provided along the backs of the sections facing Customs Street and Quay Street, which would give access, light and air to the backs of the existing and new sections, and in order that these lots might be deepened slightly, he was of the opinion that the width of the road connecting the Gore Street extension with Breakwater Road might be reduced to 60 feet, which would give a 42 feet roadway and two ninefeet paths. The chairman stated that any costs in connection with the provision of the 15 feet right-of-way would be a matter for the Harbour Board and its lessees to settle. After due consideration, the Town Planning Committee recommended tlie alternative plan Mr. Tyler outlined, subject to satisfactory arrangements with the Government and the Harbour Board, it being understood that the Government undertake the roading of its own property. Several councillors asked /to see plans of the amended scheme, and the question was referred back to the committe e.