RURAL ZONING OF McDONNELL ESTATE

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 1 October 1954, Page 2

RURAL ZONING OF McDONNELL ESTATE

OWNERS OBJECT TO PROPOSAL At the hearing by the Borough Council on Thursday, September 23, of objections to the Town Planning Scheme, objection was made to the rural zoning of the area known as the McDonnell Estate, one block of which comprises 118 acres. Mr Evans, appearing for the owners, said he would show that subdivisi'on into residential quarter acre seetions, rather than being an unwarrantable drain on Council resources so far as the provision of services was concerned, would produce a large sum in rates each year. He would also show that the town plan scheme in its present form did not provide sufficient land to meet the demand for residential seetions in the Borough. "Suitable For Housing" Mr L. H. Cheal, surveyor, called by Mr Evans, said the areas were capable of subdivision into residential seetions and were suitable for housing. He did not think the provision of services like sewerage, water-supply and electricity would involve any undue difficulty. The 118 acre block would provide approximately 250' to 300 residential seetions. He had been under instructions from Mr McDonnell to prepare a subdivisional system just prior to the town plan scheme coming into being. Mr W. K. Francis, land agent, said that he did not think the town planning scheme provided sufficient land for residential purposes. There was an urgent demand for seetions of a lower price. The 118 acre block in question would be a very reasonably priced block and sold on terms at which anyone would be able to buy. Seetions were very, very hard to get and anything within half a mile was up to at least £400, and there were not many within half a mile of the centre of the town. Assuming the 118 acres were subdivided into quarter-acre seetions they would sell at an average of £90. Shortage Of Seetions Mr T. M. Kent, land agent, said r he thought residential seetions were going'to be very short, particularly as the town boundary was surrounded by Maori or Crown land which could not be opened up except very slowly. The Borough area was definitely going to be starved for holiday seetions. There was an almost inexhaustible demand for seetions of up to £150 to £200. Asked by Mr Evahs if he had any seetions like that on his books, witness said he had one reasonable building section at under £200, and about 30 between £200 and £300. In the light of the demand he thought residential seetions would be cut out by the end of March, anyway with the coming summer. Mr R. J. McDonnell said he had numerous enquiries for seetions in the 118 acre block area. When they first decided to cut up the block an, advertisement got into the papers inadvertently and they had 137 replies which they just had to forget about. He had had in mind an average price of £87 10/- when he first talked it over and he thought that price would still stand even in view of the Councirs nbw roading standards. His aim would be a deposit and the balance over four or five years. It would give every worker a chance of buying a section. "A Dead Loss" The land was not suitable for farming; it was impossible to farm 100 acres of that pumice. A unit would need to be 400 or 500 acres.

He could not suggest any use to which the property could be put other than housing. They had held it for about 30 years with a view to subdividing for residential purposes- and it could be put to no other use. If it was declared a rural area it would just be a dead loss. If it were made a residential area they would be prepared to meet the Council in the provision of services on any reasonable basis, Cr. K. E. Young: You say this property is a dead loss if it becomes rural. Do you think there would be no demand for 5-acre seetions on the block? Witness: Very, very little. Mr Evans: I think Mr Francis has answered that very question. Mr Francis: It would be pretty bad for Mr McDonnell if it were cut into five acres. Cr. Young: You consider there would be no demand? ? Mr Francis: Not at a price Mr McDonnell could sell at. Referring to provision of sewerage and other services, Mr Evans said so far as he knew sewerage had not even been thought of in Taupo yet, or even water supply. The Chairman said they were having a water supply plan prepared now. It had been prepared twice but turned down by the Goverhment. Mr Evans said when the time did come to put sewerage in it would probably be many years before the Council got round evep to taking the sewerage over to the block. If the 118 acres were residential property the Council would get a very substantial rate income, and when eventually sewerage came the Council would be well able to afford it. He submitted that the evidence of Mr Francis and Mr Kent showed that the Town Plan Scheme did not provide sufficient residential seetions and this 118 acres seemed the obvious place to go for them. Decision was reserved.