AIRPORT AT LEVELS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25609, 25 September 1948, Page 6

AIRPORT AT LEVELS

—♦ — GRANT TO PURCHASE 604 ACRES COMMENT BY MAYOR OF TIMARU From Our Own Reporter TIMARU, September 24. Advice that Cabinet had approved a grant for the purchase of 604 acres at Levels, mid-way between Timaru and Temuka, for an airport, was received in Timaru this evening. Doubts were expressed, however, as to whether the area would be big enough, considering the future demands of civil aviation, and the fact that there were 1200 acres of land available. There was agreement that this was a real step irt providing South Canterbury with a first class airport. Before the war. a site at Salt Water Creek was drained and prepared for an airport, but in spite of considerable expenditure it has not reached the requirements of the civil aviation authorities. Strong representations have recently been made for an airport at Levels, and when the Minister m charge of Air Department (Mr F. Jones) visited Timaru on April 1. local bodies representatives asked that the Government giVe serious consideration to the purchase of 1190 acres at Levels, with the provision that decision as to whether the area should be controlled and developed by the Government or local bodies be settled at a later date.

“This comes as very welcome news indeed.” said the Mayor (Mr A. E. S. Hanan) who has put forward strong claims for Levels, not only as a local airport, but as an overseas air terminal. “I am highly elated, but like Oliver Twist, I feel like asking for more. In deciding to purchase 604 acres, the Government has agreed that the site is a first-class one for an airport, and it maj yet be persuaded to purchase the whole 1200 acres.” Because of the dispute over Hare wood’s claim to be made an overseas air terminal, there was hope that Levels, which promised to be a field equal to the best in the world, might also be considered for this status, said Mr Hanan. Pleasure at the decision was also voiced bv Mr S. G. McClelland, president of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, but he also felt that 1200 acres should have been acquired. “Too man’y mistakes have been made in the past by buildiflg aerodromes when insufficient thought was given to the future.” The chamber was none the less gratified that a start was being made to implement part of a project which it had recommended.