This discussion also continued. This time it was responding to Chris Kissling’s comments about the need for us to build on the hills surrounding Lyttleton Harbour. Chris received this response
Chris, the residents of the northern slopes of the harbour are quite happy with a low population protected by hills and bends that freak out the plains dwellers and keep them away. Selfish I know, but we like things the way they are. When we reach the Sign of the Kiwi and begin our descent we breathe out and enter another, nicer world. A world that in no way would be improved by increasing the population density
Logically you are right. but I would sooner see apartment blocks in Rolleston which is buggered anyway by suburban sprawl.
There would be less strife in the world if people who liked things the way they are were just left alone to continue liking it. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen. It didn’t happen for early Maori or even Hagley Park. In the meantime, we continue to count on the hills, bends and councils lack of money.
To which Chris replied:
I can understand your philosophy. BUT if all local environments withstood change, we would need to halt expansionary development and concentrate on preserving. That requires population control, preferably voluntarily and border controls to keep out aliens! It also means we all accept a different philosophy regarding economic growth, one that is operative within the environmental constraints that set the limits. Just how to make it all fair and equal share is a social and political conundrum. A step towards that ideal would be for the rich to pay their taxes but then turkeys don’t vote for Christmas!
So no easier access to the south shore of Lyttelton Harbour because the wise moved to live there to escape whatever and are happy to deter others from joining them. Your suggestion to promote Rolleston because it is already a lost cause may delay the prospect of the lower slopes of Mt Herbert being covered in housing. Seemingly, it will take more than a pandemic to reduce the demand for housing, and if NZ is seen as a relatively safe and defensible haven we will not reach a steady state and balance between population and resources inside the next 50 years. The young of today will have to fix that dilemma. Old fossils like me will not be much help unless we can suggest ways to alleviate the pressures in an amicable manner.
Kindest regards and let the conversation continue. Who knows what might eventuate.
Let us keep this dialogue up. I still cannot see why we can’t use some of our golf courses for affordable housing. Also, we need to build on the Peninsula. I’ll add that to my golf courses argument.
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