Plans For Wanganui

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31363, 8 May 1967, Page 3

Plans For Wanganui

(N.Z. Press Association) WANGANUI, May 7. The proposed building of waterway motels along the Wanganui River and a regional survey of the resources of the Wanganui district were projects to emerge from discussions between the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), who headed a Government study team, and representatives of local bodies and organisations in Wanganui on Saturday.

Mr Holyoake was accompanied on the visit by the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall), the Minister of Works (Mr Allen) and several departmental heads. One of the highlights of the seven-hour visit was a heli-

copter flight taken by Messrs Holyoake and Marshall over the proposed sites for an international cargo airport at Kaitoke and the coal-fired power station. After hearing 15 submissions on the district’s needs and problems, Mr Holyoake said the Government was convinced that Wanganui had much to offer industrialists. Mr Allen promised that a regional resources survey of the district would be started on July 1 by the town planning branch of the Ministry of Works. Similar surveys of two other areas would now be deferred to allow Wanganui top priority, he said. The chairman of the Wa-

nganui River Scenic Board (Mr A. C. Seivewright) announced that a private company for building waterway motels along the Wanganui river was proposed. Mr Holyoake said that provided a strong case could be made for the project, a state loan might be available. The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr V. P. McGlone) announced that the formation of a national scenic waterway on the river had been approved in principle. Mr Allen said that a decision on whether or not to proceed with the Wanganui river hydro development scheme would be made this year.