New airstrip opening at Franz Josef
Greymouth reporter
The new Franz Josef airstrip will be officially opened today, almost two years to the day after it was washed out in a preChristmas flood.
It will be ready for the holiday season. The original strip had been in use for 43 years until it was scoured away when the Waiho River burst its banks in December, 1984. Westland County Council staff have worked over the last fortnight to form a new sealed strip, and Cr Mick Sullivan, at the council meeting on Thursday, praised the staff for their work in finishing the strip to such a tight
schedule. Cr Margaret Moir spoke of the work of the county manager, Mr Jon Olson, saying that his “enthusiasm, bloody-mindedness and dedication” had been largely responsible for the work.
The new airstrip is a joint venture between the Government and the Westland County Council. An aero display and lolly scrambles will be followed this evening by the official cutting of the ribbon by Mrs Marie Lindsay, of Christchurch, a daughter of the pioneer South Westland aviator, Captain Bert Mercer.
A social function will follow in the T.H.C. Franz Josef Hotel.
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Press, 20 December 1986, Page 2
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196New airstrip opening at Franz Josef Press, 20 December 1986, Page 2
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