No need to rush Carterton development, says resident

"Smart planning" or "dense thinking" quips Carterton resident and former local government commissioner, Barbara Durbin, who feels this description sums up where Carterton district is at with its future development.
"There's a lot of talk that there's great growth going on, and there's certainly a lot of interest, but there's no dramatic hurry. If Carterton thinks through its town planning carefully and methodically over the next few years, it could become a unique district which people will scramble to live in. If it carries on with its "let's grab anyone who shows interest" mentality, we'll end up with a hotch potch of housing without any social infrastructure."
By social infrastructure, she means reasonable sized sections for people to live on, parks within walking distance, good shopping and accessible public transport. It's something known internationally as "smart growth," she said. "The generally accepted New Zealand standard is that 90 per cent of the population within 400m of a reserve, covering at least half an acre, and this fits well into this philosophy."
"We have the luxury of time, I'm not convinced there's any pressure from Wellington and beyond as some would have us believe. We have time to do a grand job to make the community attractive to live in."
In an attempt to make those in power listen to her vision for Carterton she has presented a number of submissions to the Combined Wairarapa District Plan.
Hers are part of over 500 submissions and she is wading through all of them to see if further comment is necessary. One of Mrs Durbin's main concerns is the small size of urban sections allowable in the new plan, suggested down to 300sqm. She wants to see houses not covering more than 40 per cent of the minimum lot area. To do this, reasonable sized sections have to be retained otherwise people will be living in "egg cartons."
Mrs Durbin said research has proven that people living in too close a proximity to their neighbours is not mentally healthy. She said some Auckland suburbs are moving away from the density housing brought in 20 years ago. She also wants to see a greater level of reserve contribution and commitment from the Carterton District Council to establishing a network of recreational reserves and walkways throughout the town, ensuring safe play areas, access to schools and shopping areas, and an increased opportunity for informal community interaction.
Mrs Durbin came to live in Carterton around six years ago from Auckland. Her comments on town planning are based on impressive first-hand experience of local body work, latterly being one of a three-person local government commission, retiring in 2001 after seven years of service throughout New Zealand. She is a Justice of the Peace, was a Takapuna City Councillor, representing Albany, and a member of the Auckland Regional Authority, representing five North Shore local authorities. In 1999 she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for public service.