Plan might sever link to river, says resident

Rezoning land between the Pines subdivision and the Clutha River for commercial use might remove one of the few public routes to the river in Alexandra, an objector told the Central Otago District Council's hearings panel.

The panel was hearing submissions about four plan changes relating to industrial, business and residential land, all in Alexandra.

Its decisions were reserved.

It advertised the variations to the plan in March 10, 2007 and called for comment on the submissions later that year.

The plan became operative in April last year.

Nine submissions were received on plans to rezone land between State Highway 8 and the tailings area, behind the Pines subdivision, as a business resource area.

At present, it is zoned residential.

The council's planning consultant, David Whitney, said the aim was to allow use of the land for a mixture of commercial and light industrial activity, including large-scale retail activity.

It was a recommendation from the 2005 Blueprint Study for Alexandra, which was developed after a series of public meetings.

Alexandra resident Peter Dymock, who lives in the the Pines, said it was vital to be able to retain access to the Clutha River and the Ngapara Pools dredge holes.

"It's very important to retain this link to the river and the Ngapara Pools," Mr Dymock said.

The walkway between Alexandra and Clyde on the opposite side of the river was well used and it was important to allow for a future development of any walkway on the Alexandra side of the river as well.

"The provision of walking and cycling routes is one of the things that helps attract people to a town."

Zoning the area around the Ngapara Pools as commercial was impractical, he said.

"It's a series of dredge holes surrounded by willows and it's not practicable to ever develop the site for commercial development."

There were few public routes to the Clutha on that side of the river in the stretch from Alexandra through to about halfway to Clyde, he said.

The New Zealand Transport Agency's integrated planning manager for Otago, Ian McCabe, said the council should consider getting contributions from developers towards improving roading intersections in the area if there was any commercial development.

"We are concerned that the costs of carrying out the likely necessary improvements will fall on the agency in circumstances where it has not been responsible for generating the adverse effects; the adverse effects come about directly as a consequence of the land use development," Mr McCabe said.

Land fronting on to Ngapara street may be rezoned from rural to industrial.

Mr Whitney said the aim was to make additional land available in the town for industrial development in Ngapara St.

The deemed plan change attracted 12 submitters in opposition.

The submitters were concerned about the adverse effects of future industrial activity on the occupants of nearby facilities, such as Dunstan Educare, the Alexandra Tourist Park and Living Options.

 

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement