HAREWOOD AIR TERMINAL

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27074, 24 June 1953, Page 13

HAREWOOD AIR TERMINAL

FACILITIES FOR PASSENGERS PERMANENT PLANNING “VERY DIFFICULT” Planning of a permanent terminal building at the Harewood airport should not be undertaken for some time yet, said Cr. T. H. McCombs, chairman of the Christchurch City Council’s finance committee, when he was asked yesterday to comment on the proposed extensions at the Christchurch international airport. Harewood. The whole situation was so fluid that planning such a building would be very difficult, he said. The Government had asked for extensions to the runways to accommodate jet aircraft and discussions would have to be held between the <civil aviation authorities and the council before any final decisions were reached, Cr. McCombs said. An overseas terminal was a matter for the Government. The city council’s responsibility was to f cater for internal air traffic only. By not declaring the development of the airport a work of national importance, the Government had made it very difficult for the council to raise a loan for the extensions, said Cr. McCombs. All the work at the terminal building, estimated to cost £ 12,000, would have to be paid out of rates. Extensions to the terminal building would be generally to the north, said the City Engineer (Mr E. Somers) yesterday. The new wing would give improved facilities for passengers and visitors, better diningroom accommodation, and improved office accommodation. The plans had not yet been fully approved and had been sent to the Civil’Aviation branch of the Air Department for comment. If at any time it was proposed to incorporate the overseas terminal in the building, extensions could be made to ■the south. Mr Somers said.