THURSDAY 5 JUNE 1997

COUNCIL CITY PLAN REFLECTS LOCAL CONDITIONS

Claims by Hugh Pavletich, Christchurch Property Developer that the Christchurch City Council is to blame for crime and joblessness in Christchurch are wrong, says John Dryden the man responsible for advising Council on the zoning the City Plan.

Hugh Pavletich claims that the Christchurch and Auckland City Council’s are limiting the supply of land and pushing up land prices by subverting the Resource Management Act. In Christchurch’s case Mr Pavletich suggests that the Christchurch City Council has "conspired" with the Canterbury Regional Council.

"The reason that land is in short supply in Christchurch is because we have had such large urban growth in the last few years and there is a shortage of land to urbanise. Christchurch is surrounded on two thirds of our boundaries by versatile soils, which the Regional Council and other groups want to protect. This limits our options to the Waimakariri flood plain and the Port Hills."

Local authorities in the region are meeting together to decide the future options and the outcome of these meetings will decide our approach in the future.

The Resource Management Act is not clear cut, with various sections being interpreted in many ways. Interested groups have been able to oppose developments for all sorts of reasons. Objections to rezoning can delay approvals for up to five years.

-ENDS-

For further information:

John Dryden

Manager Environmental Policy and Planning

Christchurch City Council

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