Council planning views expressed

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 477, 16 March 1993, Page 6

Council planning views expressed

Apres ski zones should stay, farmers should be allowed to do what they want on their land, and esplanade reserves on the banks of rivers should be limited. These were some of the views expressed at a recent meeting held to discuss town planning issues recently. While there had been difficulties in administering the apres ski zones in Ohakune, some of the 30-odd people present at the meeting at the Ohakune Primary School felt the

zones should be kept. "People paid extra to be in those zones and they don't want to lose the rights they've bought into," said developer Paul Scarf. Justify Town planner Geoff Page said under the Resource Management Act the council could keep the zones, but that they had to be justified. "We have to identify what are the differences in terms of effects in the zones." The idea behind the zones had been to keep

visitor accommodation close to the tourist development zone of the Junction, where ski related businesses were to be located. Mr Page told the meeting that the council would still have different zones, and that the special zones in Ohakune could remain, but that they would have to be based on effects rather than use. Motellier and accountant Bill Peach said it would be difficult to define what effects were allowed and which

weren't, because largely they would not be known until after a development took place. He said under the present system a developer knew what they were and weren't allowed to do. Unique He said the new plan should retain the uniqueness of Ohakune township, that the onedistrict plan should not over-ride the differences in the town. Mayor Garrick Workman said he had heard it said that if Ohakune' s plan had not been so restrictive there would have been more development. Ohakune Primary School principal and district councillor Ellen Gould said while Ohakune had gained in tourism, Raetihi's school had grown immensely. She said because of the high rents in Ohakune, the population had become almost transient and that young families were not staying. She said she would like to see the new district plan address this

problem. Mr Scarf said people being allowed to rent their properties on a nightly basis caused the shortage in permanent rental accommodation. Resources Discussing the district' s resources, the view that the Waimarino Plains soils were an asset and should be protected, from over-subdivision, exhaustion and depletion was put forward. "I'm concemed at the amount of poisons put into the soil over timc," said local farmer John Martin. "Most growers and farmers are now aware of ihe dangcrs but it should be acknowledged." "I agree with John, in what he said, but a landowner should be able to do whatever he wants with his land," said rural contractor Koi Young. "The landowner has to recognise (the problems) because its their livelihood. They're going to look after it." He said if farmers could more easily subdivide five acre

lifestyle blocks there would be more foreign investment in the area. Esplanade reserves are an important part of the changed legislation, with more changes on the way. Mr Page said the; latest changes will see the council able to choose which rivers it deems necessary to have esplanade reserves and access strips. The council will have to pay compensation to the land-owner where reserves are taken, he said. The council would

have to decide which rivers it is willing to buy esplanade reserves for. Esplanade strips, where the farmer can continue to use the land but public access is ensured, would be a cheaper option. Earlier in the meeting some present expressed the view that the area's rivers were a district resource, and support for esplanade reserves was expressed by some, but not all. Mr Martin said the legislation would lead to massive problems and should be scrappcd.