N.A.C. club plans turned down

Press, 10 April 1979, Page 7

N.A.C. club plans turned down

Plans by the N.A.C. Sports and Social Club to erect a large building containing indoor sports, social and administration facilities at the comer of Wairakei and Russley Roads have been turned down by the Waimairi County Council’s town planning committee. Council members refused an application for a specified departure from the District Scheme because they agreed that the development’s main purpose was social rather than recreational.

Although the applicants had plans to develop the surrounding area for outdoor sports, the committee considered the recreation ground was an accessory to the building and associated car parking, said Cr E. L. Bonisch.

While it may have been in the club members’ interests to have facilities on that site, the public interest could be badly affected, especially in relation to traffic problems. Approval for the "very substantial” club facility would set a precedent which could lead to similar applications in the rural zone. This

trend could result in changes in land use and traffic flows w'hich would have a signficant effect on regional and district scheme planning, the council said.

A proposal which placed more emphasis on outdoor recreation and included smaller buildings with greatly reduced social facilities might have been acceptable, subject to special conditions.

Transfer station The council decided that objectors to the proposed northern transfer station at Styx Mill Road should be allowed an extra two weeks to lodge objections and submissions.

The normal period for lodging objections is four weeks, but the time was extended so that anyone likely to be affected would have the opportunity to object. Objections received in the first month will be publicly notified at the end of that time. The council intends to designate the Styx Mill noad area a public works site in the district scheme so that it can be used for the transfer station.