PLAN FOR AIRPORT

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30831, 17 August 1965, Page 1

PLAN FOR AIRPORT

New Buildings Proposed

A new international terminal building where the No. 1 hangar stands, a new freight terminal area and a parking building with its roof as a heliport are among the proposals made by Mr A. I. R. Jamieson, manager of the Christchurch International Airport, in a report which the City Council approved in principle last evening. In his plan for the next 10 years, Mr Jamieson said that approval would allow the council to work towards a planned future. Although the plan might change many times in the light of experience, a topsy-like growth would be avoided.

The plan called for the removal of No. 1 hangar at present occupied by Airwork (N.Z.), Ltd., and ,ultimately perhaps No. 3 hangar, he said.

To enable the domestic portion of the terminal building to expand a new freight terminal had to be built this year. Therefore it was timely to suggest to Airwork, Ltd., that a new site for its industry to the north-east should be developed and that as an interim measure, perhaps for five years, No. 1 hangar should be used as a cargo terminal. Mr Jamieson said the present planned extensions to

the international wing should be adequate for the next five years, but the domestic traffic, which was already overtaxing facilities, would require urgent attention within the next two years.

i The over-all plan eventually gave the present terminal over to domestic traffic and provided for a new international building, Mr Jamieson said. The new freight terminal area would be located to the north-east, and a parking building with under-cover access to passenger buildings was proposed The roof of this would also be the heliport for the airport. Introducing his plan, Mr Jamieson said the terminal facilities had been in use for nearly six years. Although in 1960 they were assumed to be adequate for a considerable time, the growth of air traffic and associated industry had been such that a major expansion programme was needed if Christchurch was to maintain the lead in airport development and planning which had been the council’s policy. With the introduction of pure-jet services and the already evident increases this would bring, together with the large increases in domestic services, it was necessary that future planning be realistic and bold if Christchurch was not to perpetuate a programme of piecemeal additions harmful to function and costly to rectify. The sketch printed at right shows part of the development plan. The existing terminal building is on the left and the new terminal proposed for international passengers is on the right. Dotted in the foreground is the proposed car-parking building.