TOWN PLANNING SCHEME

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 86, 11 September 1953, Page 1

TOWN PLANNING SCHEME

REPORT ON PROPOSALS (No. 3). (Note: — This is the finel instalment of the interim report on the Taupo Town Board's town planning scheme prepared by Messrs. Patience and Gabites. The previous instalments were published in our last two issues). Engmeering Services. At the present time there is no town water supply, and a scheme to cost approximately £45,000 in 1950 was declined by the Local Government Loans Board, it being considered to be beyond the financial resourceS of the town at that time. There is no sewerage scheme in the town and disposal is effected by septic tanks. A hydro-electric power station to serve the town has recently been installed and the reticulation of the town and provision of street lighting is being proceeded with. At the present time there is a length of one mile of road which is sealed and about the same length of formed footpaths. When it is realised that within the town boundaries there are almost 50 miles of streets the exfent of the problem of supplying water, sewerage, electricity, and of forming and maintaining ' of footpaths, kerbing and channelling, will be appreciated. At present densities of building there is on the average one house per five chains of road, so that it is clear that a cons-ider-able amount of consolidation is necessary within the present residential areas before the above services can. be economically provided. Administration of Scheme. The Town Planning Act 1926 and its amendments gives the Town Board the authority to prepare tfiis Town Plan and to guide developement into appropriate zones, thereby preventing interference with the amenity,.convenience and property values of any particular neighbourhoods in the town. A definite precedure is laid down under the Act before the Scheme is finally approved, and the Town Board must first submit the Scheme to the Town Planning Board in Wellington for provisional approval, and then advertise the scheme locally for a period of three months, during which time local residents may inspect the scheme and lodge any objections or suggestions. These objections are then considered at-a public hearing and the scheme may be amended in the light of reasonable objections before being finally approved. The administration of the scheme is conducted by the Town Board and its offioers through the issue of building permits. Applicants for the hormal building permits are required to furnish additional information regarding the proposed building and the officers concerned then satisfy themselves that the building • will comply with the Scheme before granting the permit. This applies to new buildings only and existing buildings which are at present being used for purposes which do not conform with the Scheme are not effected, and indeed may be repaired and even extended within limits. Should a non-conforming building be destroyed by fire or earthquake or outlive its usefulness and have to be pulled »down, however, permission to rebuild would not be granted. The planning process is thus gradual, but it is as fair to

the individual as our legisiators can make it, and although the end results may not be seen for many years, continued adherence to the plan does ensure that future generations will reap the benefit. Under the Act the Town Board has certain discretionary powers and in some matters where undue individual hardship or public inconvenience appear to demand that an exemption should be granted, this can be'done with the consent of the Town Planning Board. A measure of flexibility in the future to meet changing circumstances may also be desirable, and there is provision in the Act for amendment of the Scheme which could be made through public notification and the hearing of public objections as in the case of the original scheme. There is thus ample prbvision for the Tov/n Board to administer the scheme in a democratic manner, but at the same time prevent the misuse of land withim the town.