BOROUGH COUNCIL DISCUSSES FULLY ALL PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN NEW WHAKATANE TOWN PLANNING SCHEME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 26, 17 August 1949, Page 5

BOROUGH COUNCIL DISCUSSES FULLY ALL PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN NEW WHAKATANE TOWN PLANNING SCHEME

BRIDGE SITE AND PROPOSED ROAD NOT FAVOURED • The proposed site for the new traffic bridge above the present structure and the proposed new state highway to be built down the old county road behind Bridge Street to Valley Hoad did not find favour with any members of the Council. The serious, river erosion and the concentrating of all traffic into the town onto one road, f? Commerce Street, were the main objections. Cr H. G. Warren said that the best site from an engineering point of view and the Council’s, was to construct the bridge further down stream to link up with Hinemoa Street. At present the river from the present bridge up was badly eroding the banks and there did not seem any way in which it could be halted. It seemed ridiculous to build a bridge on that part of the river the mayor declared. The public generally seemed to be of the . same opinion. Would Be Easier Cr W. Sullivan said he thought it . would be easier to build a bridge across to Hinemoa Street but he thought that the Main Highways Board might not like the idea of building a road to the town around the waterfront. The suggested Hinemoa Street site appeared to be the ideal position Cr Warren agreed. But a road on the riverbank would be of much value to the town. The Department of Maori Affairs had indicated their interest in such a scheme and were so keen to have a waterfront road that they were willing to donate land for a a’oad where it went across Maori owned property, he added. The Maori Department was very interested in developing Maori land in this area, said Mr L. D. Lovelock, town clerk. Before the Main Highways Board - would consider building, a road round the waterfront Cr Sullivan said he thought they would expect the local bodies to contribute- some of the cost. A suggestion that the new bridge could be built across to Hinemoa Street but after crossing the state ' highway could then swing across vacant land and up Alexandria Avenue to Valley Road, was made by Cr K. E. Needham. The main highway could continue from the bridge up Hinemoa Street and then around»the waterfront to the town. Concentrating Traffic This found favour and Cr Warren pointed out that the present idea to take the state highway down the old county road behind Bridge Street to Valley Road and then swing into the town along Commerce Street was concentrating ail traffic on one route. The waterfront scheme made pro_ vision for several alternative routes. Cr C. S. Armstrong said the Board was not particularly concerned as '- long as they could by-pass the town. But they had to consider the town, Or R. T. Morpeth remarked. Further discussion on the new bridge .site and the new highway lapsed and the Works Committee was instructed to ask for a site further down stream when the whole question is to be discussed by all local bodies on September 5.

A full but informal discussion on the proposed new town planning scheme for Whakatane revealed some dissatisfaction for°some of the proposals but.approval of many of the other suggestions by the Whakatane Borough Council at a special meeting on Monday night. The main points opposed were the proposed site of the new traffic bridge and the state highway linking with Valley road, the plans to make Whakatane what was described by the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry,' “a garden city”, and the development of the area between Salonika Street and Alexandria Avenue into a concentrated residential district. . . . _ n In either case the Council decided on counter suggestions and these are to be placed before the town planner on his next visit to Whakatane.

NEW WHAKATANE TO ACCOMMODATE SOME 10,000 PEOPLE

Provision for more new roads in the borough to provide access to building. sections is an important part of the plan and received the attention of the Council. Areas hith_ erto undeveloped are set aside for concentrated growth into thickly populated residential areas. The town planner envisaged a future, population for Whakatane of about 10 000. The Council passed no comment on this figure.

The extension of the business area and the town itself is still concentrated about the Strand and the site of the new post office. The new highway to the town along Commerce Street is planned to swing around in a loop between the Bor-ough-Chambers and the Red Cross Club rooms to link up with the street behind the business area on the bank of the river. From here it proceeds along to the wharves. This is to keep as much traffic as possible out of the main shopping areas. Modern Shopping Area

The plan provides for a modern extended shopping area in the Strand with new streets and small arcades and thoroughfares linking up the various shopping centres. The present street on the riverbank is seen as a future shopping area, shops backing up onto the present businesses now facing the Strand. Everywhere there is space set aside for gardens and lawns with parking areas at the rear of every shop.

In addition there is a civic square for all the administration organisations. From the Pohaturoa Rock along Commerce Street the whole area is set aside for industries, factories, garages, repair shops and the like.

The planning of the town has been done to keep the different business sections together but each concentrated in its own area.

The Council approved of some sections of the plan but for the new town Mr Barry said it looked more like a garden city. He did not like the loop behind the Borough Chambers. Cr Sullivan described it as a bad dream, although many of its points were worthy of consideration. Too Valuable Already

Space at the rear of every business did not seem necessary Cr Morpeth said. Land in the town was too valuable already without ■ setting more aside to park vehicles. The idea, of course, was to keep as much traffic as possible off the streets, Mr Barry pointed out. He thought that the whole scheme would have to be gone over again with the town planner before anything definite was decided.

Provision Made For New Populated Areas The proposed new residential areas with internal streets making available more building sections occupied an important part of the plan. Nearly all areas were subdivided with provision made for two new schools, expanded shopping in King Street and land set aside for domains and park areas. The Eivers Beach Domain on the banks of the river is to be developed and the district immediately behind on the low lying area is to be thickly built on as a residential suburb.

In his planning the town planner has tried to keep every house within 15 minutes of some service shops. One section of the plan not favoured by the Council was the development of the low lying area between Alexandria Avenue and Salonika Street. It was generally considered that this section of the borough should be left while the area down James Street to its present terminus should be developed to its utmost.

Cr Warren thought that if this district was developed it might be possible in time to build a loot bridge across to the board mills. This would provide a convenient means of pedestrian traffic to the mills.