'Secret' spy station near Blenheim

Press, 29 January 1988, Page 3

'Secret' spy station near Blenheim

By

DAVE WILSON

Delta Station, the Government’s secret satellite eavesdropping post in the Waihopai Valley near Blenheim, is expected to be built by September this year and working by July next year. The listening post will be built on 30ha of farmland bought by the Ministry of Defence, and while the Government is refusing to disclose the cost of the facility, it is believed to be less than $5O million. Details of the satellite monitoring station were inadvertently made public this week by the retiring director of the Government Communications Security Bureau, Mr Colin Hanson. He addressed a meeting of 20 Waihopai Valley residents, unaware that a newspaper reporter was also present. Yesterday Mr Hanson said he had not intended his comments to be made public, they were intended purely for local residents concerned about the construction of the station in their area. The spy station site will be occupied by a workshop and operations building and an 18m receiving dish. The total height of the installation will be about 12 metres, he confirmed yesterday. Although the Government' has yet to complete details of tenders for equipment in the station, it is possible some sophisticated computer technology may be acquired from America. But Mr Hanson said this would involve a private

American company and should not be seen as a link with the United States Government. About 30 people will be employed at the station, which will be set up and run by the G.C.S.B. However, staff will not be privy to the data picked up by the receiving dish. All information will be automatically channelled to computers in Wellington where information will be analysed. In reply to concerns by residents at the possible visual disruption to their community by the satellite installation, Mr Hanson said he had been assured the Government would take measures to blend the installation in with the landscape. He was keen to correct a belief that the installation would be 24m high. The total height would be 12 metres because the receiving dish would be set at an angle, he said. While the plan was for a single satellite interception dish, Mr Hanson said it would not be unreasonable to expect a second dish at a future, unspecified time. This could be needed to match the growing volume of global satellite communication. Naming the complex Delta Station will continue an historical link in the area. During World War II several military camps in the area were identified by the same name. Peace campaigners will stage a protest at the Waihopai Valley site next month. The Anti Bases• Coalition has planned its I activities for the weekend of February 20 and 21.