WELLINGTON AIRPORT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 249, 18 July 1944, Page 4

WELLINGTON AIRPORT

Ratepayers’ Association Favours Porirua Site

advantages stressed

Before coming to a definite decision in the matter of extending the aerodrome ’ for the capital city of New Zealand the city council, the Government, the Air Force and Array authorities should consider carefully, from every possible angle, the respective merits of Rongotai and the head of Porirua harbour, says a statement issued last night iby the Wellington Ratepayers and Citizens’ Association. “The report already published gives an idea of what is intended if Rongotai is to be developed,” adds the statement; “it also shows up in startling silhouette its disadvantages as an airport for the great planes that are to come to this country after the war. It is therefore all the more important'that the Porirua project be given full long-range, consideration before any definite decision is acted upon. “By the reclamation of three-quarters of a mile of the very shallow waters at the head of Porirua harbour an aerodrome twice*as extensive, and shut off from the open sea could be provided in a situation remote from built-up areas, and in a position conceived to be less of a necessary nuisance, for all time, than would be the case if Rongotai is to be retained as our chief airport. With electric express trains running through the new tunnel, the Porirua airport would be right alongside the through .main trunk line between Wellington and Auckland,, and could have its own station and. siding. Such a position would be infinitely handier to people from the whole of the Wellington district than Rongotai could ever be, and yet the Porirua airport would, with modem' rail transport, be practically the same distance from Thorndon as Rongotai, as far as time was concerned. “By adopting Porirua as the airport there would be no question of dispossessing people of their homes at Kilbirnie south, there would be no question of purchasing the golf links estimated to cost £125.000, and so depriving citizens of a wonderful ‘oasis,’ while the present aerodrome at Rongotai would revert to the sports grounds Wellington so badly needs. “In all respects the association maintains that the Porirua project would be better, larger, cheaper, and more convenient to the people of the Wellington province than Rongotai. Wellington would be rid of a highly vulnerable aerodrome, open to attack from the sea and exposed to every wind that blows. Porirua on the other hand is sheltered between low hills which offer no obstacle to easy .ascent, its’ harbour is free of fogs and mist, and at Pahautanui there exists an almost ideal and wholly sheltered seaplane base also rubbing elbows with the Main Trunk Railway.”