NO ARBITRARY LIMITS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 735, 7 August 1929, Page 6

NO ARBITRARY LIMITS

TOWN PLANNING ON REGIONAL LINES AMENDMENTS TO ACT (THE SUE’S Parliamentary Reporter J PARUAIIENT BLDGS.. Tuesday. It has been found that the present Town Planning Act does not meet all requirements, consequently the Government has decided to bring down certain amendments to the Act this session on lines foreshadowed in the report of the Town Planning Board, published last April. The provisions are to enable the preparation of non-statuto.ry regional planning schemes for all areas in which there is a community of economic and social interest, disregarding the boundaries of separate local authorities within those areas. Bowers a.re to be given to enable local authorities, both borough and counties, to exercise more effective control over land subdivision and building operations pending the preparation and approval of their statutory town-planning schemes. Discussing the proposed amendments, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. F. A. de la Perrelle, stated today that a meeting of the Town Planning Board would be held on August 14 to consider the amendments in detail. He hoped that it would be possible to reach some degree of finality at the meeting, so as to enable the Bill to be drafted and submitted for the consideration of the Government. “It must not be assumed," said the Minister, “that the amendments I have Indicated preclude the possibility of further amendments at a later date, but from the reports furnished to me by the director of town planning, Mr. J. W. Mawson, there can be no doubt that regional planning on the scale now proposed is bound to have a farreaching effect on the statutory provisions of the present Act. It is thought to be advisable to gain actual experience’ in the operation of these provisions before discussing any further amendments. To mention one matter only, regional planning, the schemes should give a Clear indication as to those areas suitable and likely to be required for urban development, and in respect of which statutory townplanning schemes should be prepared. “The director of town planning had reported that one of the greatest difficulties encountered in the preparation of statutory town planning schemes, not only in New Zealand, but in other countries as well, could be attributed to the fact that the boundaries of urban authorities were more or less arbitrary. They had very little relation to the areas for which townplanning schemes should be prepared if the best results were to be obtained. In the meantime, said Mr. de la Perrelle, it is hoped that the amendments proposed will safeguard the future by preventing undesirable or uneconomic urban development until such time as a statutory town planning scheme can be put into force.