PARAPARAUMU DEVELOPMENT

Press, Issue 30997, 1 March 1966, Page 18

PARAPARAUMU DEVELOPMENT

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Feb. 28 The development of Paraparaumu airport would not impede the development of the area as a balanced urban unit, the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board was told today.

Mr G. S. Orr; for the Ministry of Works, told the board Which is holding a two-day sitting at Paraparaumu over the development of the airport, that Paraparaumu was the only suitable site for a complementary airport to Wellington. The appeal is caused by a Ministry of Works requirement for the Hutt County Council to make provision for the airport. The Paraparaumu district council and the Waikanae County Town committee officially oppose the Hutt County Council for disallowing their objections to the proposed airport.

In his submissions. Mr Orr said it was estimated that in 20 years there would be a west coast city in the area with a population of about 70.000. “To be viable it needs a well balanced economy,” he said. “Airports tend to stimulate some industrial activity.” Wellington airport had two main defects, he said. They were its proximity to hills and the force of certain winds.

“The operational level falls

well below that of other metropolitan airports.

"In the year 1964-65, 40,000 passengers were disrupted at Wellington, 3394 at Auckland, and 1984 at Christchurch,” Mr Orr said. “If Paraparaumu airport cannot be extended by 1970, an estimated 57,000 passengers will be disrupted at Wellington.”

Paraparaumu was the only suitable site for a complementary airport to Wellington. In a nine point plan, Mr Orr outlined his argument for the proposed airport: It would "be essentially a complementary airport. It would be a trans-Tasman terminal, not an international airport. Trans-Tasman flights, because

of the lower payloads, would have a lower noise level.

It was not anticipated that the new airport would be a maintenance base for N.A.C. or Air New Zealand.

Paraparaumu was the major regional airport for 14 years. It had been an alternative airport since the opening of Rongotai in 1959. Aircraft operations from Paraparaumu had not deterred tire residential development in the vicinity of the airport. Development of the new airport would permanently sterilise 600 acres of land which would have other-

wise been available for subdivision. This would increase the value of the remaining properties. The Crown owned the existing airport. This land would not be wanted for development if the new airport were built. Development of the proposed airport would generate employment. Property values would increase as there would be a demand for houses.