Hobby farm subdivision decision deferred

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 264, 22 November 1988, Page 3

Hobby farm subdivision decision deferred

A decision from the Waimarino District Council whether to approve a subdivision of land in Raetihi has been deferred.

The council works engineer was requested to provide a report on the roading aspect of the subdivision before the application would be finally considered. The application, from Mr Tom Punch, was to subdivide a parcel of land just outside the Raetihi Borough boundary on Ameku Road.

Councillors discussed the state of Ameku Road adjacent to the proposed subdivision. Town Planner Ted Fox told council he felt the road was little more than a farm track and recommended that one of the conditions imposed should the application be successful be that the road be upgraded. He suggested it be formed and met-

alled to a width of five metres with water tables and culverts as required. The Council heard that the section of Ameku Road in question was a legal road but that a gate h a d been put across the road. This was with the agreement of the then county council, with the understanding that the county would cease maintaining the road. Cr Griffiths said he thought the road, while

narrow, was in good condition. He said there were many county roads in worse condition. Cr Bennett asked who was to pay for the upgrading of the road. Mr Fox advised councillors that the council can't be forced to do any work on the road. Councillor Griffiths suggested council make a decision on the subdivision at that meeting subject to a condition to be imposed af-

ter receiving the engineer's report, but M r Fox advised against

this, saying the approval would be too uncertain from both the

council's and the applicant's point of view.