Chch Antarctic centre proposed

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 5

Chch Antarctic centre proposed

By

KAY FORRESTER

and YVONNE MULDER An international Antarctic centre, incorporating Government programmes, tourist information and Antarctic Treaty Secretariat duties, is proposed for Christchurch Airport. The American National Science Foundation, which runs the United States Antarctic Research Programme, drew up the plans in response to the Christchurch Airport Authority’s plans to redevelop its present site. “It is our contribution to the long-range planning of the airport,” said the foundation’s polar director, Dr Peter Wilkniss, in Christchurch yesterday. The multi-million dollar project — one unofficial

estimate is between $lO million and $2O million — would cover Bha in Orchard Road. The Christchurch City Council’s airport committee welcomed the proposal yesterday. Councillors took it as a reaffirmation that the American base will stay in Christchurch. The programme is at present on land marked for future development as air cargo space. The master plan sites the relocated base on the northwest “non-operational” side of the airport. A land use for the Orchard Road area allows only 2.5 ha for the base. The siting and location of the base were matters for negotiation, the airport’s director, Mr Hugh McCar-

roll, said. “Obviously the Americans would like to stay on the operational side of the airport. Perhaps we can do another layout, providing the facilities intended without taking up so much road frontage,” he said. The facilities in the new international centre would include administration offices for the 150 American, New Zealand and other personnel, including the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, operations areas, a 100-person auditorium, museum and public information area, workshops and storage, an Antarctic terminal and personnel accommodation. The centre would provide support for all those leaving Christchurch for

the Ice. The centre should be a focal point for private expeditions and tourist trips to the Antarctic, said Dr Wilkniss. “We would like to coordinate with them. It will work like the national parks. We might have to come to the rescue, so we want to know who they are and where they are,” he said. Growing tourism was a fact of life for the Antarctic, so Governments should co-ordinate as much as possible. This summer American tourist companies are offering trips to the South Pole for $U569,500. Councillors also spoke of tourism opportunities the Antarctic centre

would offer. Much depended on marketing the centre to the Italians and other nations and persuading them to base their Antarctic programmes at Christchurch, Mr McCarroll said. Christchurch could market itself as “the gateway to the Antarctic,” said the airport committee’s chairman, Cr Morgan Fahey. He noted Hobart — Christchurch’s "rival” for the American base — had an Antarctic museum and marketed itself as such. No discussions had been held about cost, Mr McCarroll said. Dr Wilkniss said he envisaged a private developer building the facility, probably in

phases, and leasing it to the countries and organisations involved in the Antarctic. The Antarctic Division of the D.S.I.R. may be a tenant 1 The division has part of its operations at the airport and it would be logical to put everything together, said the division’s programme manager, Mr James Barker, yesterday. Other countries — such as Italy — were beginning to build up a presence in the Antarctic, and it was conceivable they might want to establish an administration base in Christchurch. "An international Antarctic Centre would be good for Christchurch city,” said Mr Barker.