Cold Shoulder For Norfolk Plan

AND A FEDERAL FOOT IN THE DOOR

By a staff reporter

Once more Norfolk Island looks like being split down the middle— this time over the Coldham Plan, which some of the islanders had come to regard as the planning bible for the small community. The plan, which would have rationalised de velopment, instituted various zones for industry, commerce and rural activities and controlled building, was thrown out by five votes to three by the Island Council at its meeting towards November’s end.

Out with the plan went the report of the special Steering Committee, which has been studying the plan for months and which came up with several amendments but, overall, recommended the plan’s adoption.

But there was no vacuum. The council adopted an amendment from Cr Randall who recommended the establishment of a Planning Control Authority incorporating the existing Building Board. The authority would work “within a broad policy as de fined by council in matters of de velopment planning, health, immigra tion and permanent population objectives, using the Coldham Plan as a reference”.

Mr Ray Coldham, of Harrison, Grierson and Partners of Auckland, the plan’s author, got a word in with a letter in which he warned of the need for a water supply, sewerage scheme and a town centre.

Voting for adoption of the plan were Crs Anderson, Mackenzie and Ryves. The anti-planners were Crs Randall, Quintal, Weslake, Evans and Smith.

Over the meeting was the shadow of the legislators in Canberra in the shape of a letter from Minister Gordon M. Bryant who suggested— maybe “threatened” was a" better word-legislation setting up a Town Planning Ordinance to govern a Town Planning Board on which would sit the Administrator as chair man, an island councillor, two resi dents, a “suitably qualified person appointed by the minister” and an officer of the Capital Territory De partment.

The board’s function would be to make recommendations to the minister regarding a broad develop ment plan breaking up the island into

zones. All approvals would have to come from the minister.

This was a federal foot in Norfolk’s door with a vengeance!

Although divided over the merits of the Coldham Plan, the council was united in its opposition to Minister Bryant’s proposals.

“I think we are quite capable of handling our own planning problems,” said Cr Anderson. “I feel it best for any plan to come from Norfolk Island and not from Canberra

as it looks as though it might,” echoed Cr Mackenzie.

With Canberra looking over the islanders’ shoulders, all eager to plan their future, maybe the council will now take the advice of Administrator Air Commodore Pickerd who told the councillors to stop talking about its advisory role and accept more responsibility.

If they didn’t, warned The Nor folk Islander’s editor Tom Lloyd, “we will be Norfolk in name only”.