Town Planning

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 10, 7 August 1984, Page 2

Town Planning

Once again town planning has raised its restless head in Ohakune, and once again the cause is a debacle by the council before the Appeal Tribunal. Let us look at the facts. Fact. There were four appeals heard. The council lost all four. Fact. On the deferred residential A appeal, Council asked for costs in advance, on the grounds that the appeal was frivolous. Council lost. Ratepayers bear the cost. Fact. Council moved to ban ski hires from town. Council lost. The tribunal indicated verbally after a mere 5 minutes discussion, that it would find in favour of the appellants. Ski hire is now a predominant use in the commercial A and B zones. (The only detail left to settle is the access and carparking requirements). If this is a compromise as the Mayor claimed in your last issue, I wonder if he would consider a compromise on my 16.5% rate increase last year. A rout. Fact. Council fought long and hard to stop The Hobbit restaurant from opening to the public. Council totally defeated.

Fact. The council tried to force the removal of the Egmont Street Railway houses after they were sold to private -owners. Council totally defeated. By seeking to place very high standards on new and resited old houses in the borough, the council has forced up building costs, and hence rents. High standards may be laudable, if stultifying, but somebody has to pay. In this case it is the low income local people who cannot get houses for a reasonable rent. It is hardly fair to blame the Railways for not rushing to bail the council out of a problem of it's own making. I should point out that these decisions reflect on the last council, not on the newly elected members. They have their own carrot to bear.

lan F.

Heappey