FRANKTON DEVELOPMENT

Lake County Mail, Issue 21, 15 October 1947, Page 1

FRANKTON DEVELOPMENT

Revival of Negotiations for Town Planning

In a further effort to expedite the re-survey of Frankton township in order to meet the ever-increasing need for more land for housing, the Lake County Council is meeting with some success. The Department of Lands and Survey has advised the council as follows: “As soon as a surveyor is available steps will be taken to resume the re-planning of the township. On completion of survey steps will be taken to offer a group of Crown sections.”

The letter further states, “ It is intended to restrict this to the south-end as per the council’s letter, although it looks as if the re-planning should include blocks 23-2!), fronting the Frankton road, despite the fact that this area is rather cold and shady during the winter months.” The survey operations will be conlined in the first place to the street deviations and when this is done replanning .of the sections can be proceeded with, limiting same to south of Warwick street (Kawarau dam side). The Lake County Council has approved of a plan of a re-subdivision for the town of Frankton which envisages a new system of loading to conform with the contours of the land in the area and the resectioning of the land bounded by the said new-reading scheme. The setting aside of special sites for public amenities and business areas is also contemplated. One feature of the township as it exists, is the large area owned by the Crown Lands Department comprising the most advantageous sites for building purposes. The Lake County Council is therefore desirous of making early provision for the early and economic development of the township in co-operation with the Lands Department, as it realises that the cost of future amenities will be greatly minimised by reason of close and orderly settlement. The township area is ideally situated for ' such purposes as drainage, water supply and electric power. The hospital is also close by, also a landing field. Further, it is visualised that a large hostel in the Frankton area would be adequately served by all modes of transport including a feeder air service. The township is, moreover, conveniently situated at the junction of the northern and southern arterial State highways. Ample sporting facilities can also.be provided for. Continuous Enquiries for Sections The County Clerk reported to the council that he had been receiving enquiries for some years past relating to available sections and section owners, but learns from information received, that very few land owners were prepared to sell their sections. Therefore, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin has been continually pressed for suitable building sites. The opinion has been expressed that the Crown land might well be handed over to the local authority as an endowment when a lease could be given for a period of, say, 21 years with the rights of renewal, and at a very nominal rental. This form of land tenure would enable the authorities to embody a clause in such a lease to the effect that buildings, either in the form of residences or business houses, shall be erected within a restricted time. This aspect of the scheme would completely exclude the landowner who desires to hold sections for the purposes of land

speculation and thus facilitate the full development of the township to the advantage of all concerned. The Government is hound to give a lead in the future planning of Frnakton because the area is closely allied with Queenstown in its location as one of the greatest centres of tourist attraction in New Zealand. In no less a. degree it is encircled by superb mountain scenery and is little removed from Queenstown. To conclude, an area which is so ad-, mirably situated will become a national asset from a tourist point of view.