Auckland Enthusiasm On Regional Authority

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31098, 29 June 1966, Page 18

Auckland Enthusiasm On Regional Authority

(from Out Own Reporter) AUCKLAND, June 28. Four Christchurch City Councillors who have argued for years about the need for local body reform and have seen various plans go into pigeon*holes today heard enthusiastic Auckland administrators describe the advantages of the Auckland Regional Authority.

Crs. W. P. Glue, chairman of the townplanning committee, G. D. Hattaway, chairman of the works committee, N. G. Pickering and H. E. Denton, along with the city engineer, Mr P. G. Secular, arrived today on a three-dav visit, mainly to study motorway progress and city redevelopment schemes.

When Mr H. D. Lambie, chairman of the authority, and Mr F. W. O. Jones, director of planning, explained the set<ip which covers a region of 2000 square miles with a population of about 600,000, Mr Lambie had no doubts authority, the drainage, transport and milk boards and also administers the airport, bulk water supply, regional civil defence and regional reserves. Co-operation In an area with 32 local authorities and previously 15 ad hoc authorities there had

been greater co-operation, Mr Lambie said. “Particularly with engineering staff there is economy and at the same time better utilisation.” he said. “If there is not enough work at one time for say, the drainage enIgineers they can be switched to another urgent job." The authority had also been able to save as regional rei serves about 500 acres of beaches and open spaces which would otherwise have about the success of the authority. It has taken over the functions of the regional planning been lost to the public for all time. On planning, the authority's staff, acting as consultants had prepared 25 of the local bodies' district schemes, Mr Lambie said. This had resulted in a co-ordinated approach and also in the district schemes i fitting in with regional plan-, ning. Fully Elected Cr. Denton was impressed by the fact that the authority' was now a fully elected body and said one of the stumbling |

blocks to a reform scheme in Christchurch had been the means of representation

Officers of the authority also explained some aspects of Auckland’s master transport plan which involves 111 miles of motorways as well as expressways and a regional reading network. I Cr. Glue whistled at the I estimated cost of £7O million ion 1974 figures for motorways and a similar amount for upgrading roads in the pro gramme up to 1986, and said that the total Roads Board spending on construction last year was only £3.5 million. The main part of the visit, on motorways, will take place tomorrow, when there will be further discussions with the authority and the visitors will meet Ministry of Works and City Council representatives