Runway delegation

Press, 20 March 1982, Page 6

Runway delegation

A Christchurch delegation will go to Wellington next Thursday' in a bid to speed, up Government approval for the city's $7 million airport runway extension. The Christchurch City Council had not been told what the Government was doing since late last year and it could no longer hold up the preparatory work for the extension, said the Deputy Mayor, Cr Rex Lester, yesterday. ’ ' ’ 7 A report by the Ministry of Transport's Civil Aviation

Division had been made last year on the extension plans but . a report from the Treasury was still, awaited, he said. “My concern is that the Treasury report should have been able to be completed and studied by now and the Government should be in a position to make a clear decision,” said Cr Lester. Contractors had v .to start the Harewood Road deviation by the end of next week and were having trouble get-' ting right of access to priv-

ate property without a definite commitment from the Government, “We will be seeking an assurance that the extension will proceed and proceed without further delay,” he said. The delegation to meet the Minister of Transport (Mr Gair) will be the Mayor, Mr Hamish Hay, Cr Lester, who is chairman of the public utilities committee, and the airport director, Mr M. W. Atkinson.