TOWN PLANNING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 415, 25 July 1928, Page 7

TOWN PLANNING

REGIONAL SCHEME ADOPTED FOUR AREAS APPROVED To overcome difficulties in regard to representation on the combined com- I ‘mittee in connection with the Auck- s land town-planning scheme, a regional planning scheme was adopted ; at a conference of local-body delegates held last evening at the Mount Eden Borough Council Chambers. Mr. E. 11. Potter, Mayor of Mount | Eden, presided, and Mr. R. B. Ham- j mond, director of town-planning, addressed the meeting. Mr. Hammond said that it had formerly been agreed that combined action was essential to the success of any town-planning scheme. Unfortunately some hitch had arisen over the question of representation, and in the meantime several local authorities i were preparing to act independently, and were setting up their own schemes In doing so it was obvious that the interests of adjoining towns in the region would be overlooked. PROPOSED DIVISION It was now suggested that the region be divided into four areas. The city by itself would probably form area No. 1, and in accordance with the Act prepare its own scheme. The remaining three areas could be arranged as follow:—All the local authority districts on the North Shore side comprising area No. 2; those on the northwest area No. 3; and those on the south-east area No. 4. A “combined committee” would be appointed for each of the areas (except area No. 1) under Section 28 of the Act. composed of representatives from each of the local authorities included in an area. By this arrangement each local authority would have direct representation on the “combined committee.”

In order to co-ordinate the planning work over the whole of the regional area, an unofficial committee, called the “regional committee,” would be formed comprising representatives from each area including area No. 1. The “regional committee” would consider the particular matters that affect the whole region, such as main lines of communication and zoning, leaving the matters of more local interest to the various areas to deal with. The division of the region was suggested as follow (each area to prepare a single or regional planning scheme): Area 1, Auckland City. Area 2, Birkenhead, Northcote, Takapuna and

Devonport boroughs, and the Waitemata County. Area 3. Mount Albert, Mount Eden, Newmarket, and Onehunga boroughs, Henderson, Glen EMen and New Lynn town districts. Area 4, Otahuhu and Pukekohe boroughs, Ellerslie. Howick town districts. One Tree Hill and Mount Wellington road districts, and the Manukau County. The scheme was approved. Mr. Hammond asked that each local body should notify the Town Planning Board of its support of the proposal, so that the board could give its approval.