Govt likely to move soon on new base for U.S. Ice programme

Press, 7 October 1980, Page 1

Govt likely to move soon on new base for U.S. Ice programme

A Government decision is expected soon on new base facilities for the United States Antarctic programme at Christchurch Airport.

The Americans have new facilities since the late 19605, and a study outlining various proposals was submitted to the Government early this year. A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Wellington said yesterday that the proposals were still being considered, and that “a deci- ■ <yon within the next ;month is likely.” ■ -XJnder an Antarctic cooperation agreement, New Zealand is charged with providing facilities for the Americans, in return for logistic support provided by the United States Navy Antarctic Support Force.

“The whole Antarctic co-operation deal is a twoway street which works out in our favour,” the spokesman said. The Government accepted in principle the “desirability” of. new base facilities for the Americans, he said.

The United States National Science Foundation — which controls and finances the American Antarctic programme — has since 1960 leased a “scattered conglomeration” of buildings at the airport from the Christchurch Airport Authority. Many of the buildings were erected as temporary barracks for the Air Force during the Second World War.

Some of the buildings had deteriorated to the stage where they were held together by the paint, according to the Christchurch representative of the foundation (Mr W. Seelig). He said that "the crunch” would soon come, when there would be no alternative but to replace some structures.

the commander of the United States Navy Antarctic Support Force in Christchurch (Commander R. L. Chrans) said: “The buildings are falling down

around our ears. You can push your fingers through some of the walls. They are deteriorating, and some have bug infection.” Arranging finance for new facilities is a problem yet to be ironed out by the Government. (One American proposal is for a complex estimated in February to cost $8 million). It has been suggested that the . Government might build the facilities, and lease them to the Americans.

The Foreign Affairs spokesman said that New Zealand’s dealings with the American Antarctic programme were recognised as a national responsibility, and Christchurch could not be expected to pick up the costs of any new facilities.

The Antarctic affairs officer at the American Embassy in Wellington (Mr R. J. Dois) said that the present facilities were too expensive to maintain,

and it would be cheaper in the long run to knock them down and build new ones. Consolidating the project- under one roof would be convenient, and would create a more efficient use of space. One proposal was for a complex containing offices, storage areas, training and recreational facilities, and a hotel-type building to provide accommodation for some of the hundreds of Americans “pouring through” the base during the Antarctic summer season.

A study under consideration by the Government, drawn up by a Californian contracting firm, Holmes and Narver, Inc., has been described as too conservative by Commander Chrans.

He said that the contractors did not fully understand the base requirements, and had proposed facilities about onethird the size needed.