CITY AIRPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1944, Page 6

CITY AIRPORT

RONGOTAI SCHEME

harbour board support

Support for the scheme for the conversion of the Rongotai aerodrome into an airport Avas promised at last night's meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board, which decided to join itself ivith the City Council in representations to the Government. A condition Avas that provision be made for access to the Miramar Wliarf. The chairman (Mr. W. H. Price) said that members Avould agree that in the interests of the city a suitable aerodrome should be as close to the city as reasonably possible. If it was decided to carry out the project the board would assist in the matter of reclamation and the sale of the foreshore. In the meantime any proposed harbour Avorks in the vicinity should be planned so as not'.to interfere with the airport work. Also provision should be made for a seaplane base, not necessarily at the head, of Evans Bay, but "in a sheltered and suitable position in the vicinity. To AA'hat extent that Avould be required in the future one could not say, but the indications were that land planes Ai'ould be used for travel betAveen Australia and NeAV Zealand. Mr. M. A. Elliot said the board did not come into the picture until the question of the reclamation of Evans Bay arose. The scheme was going to cost nearly £1,000,000, and the City Council should .ask itself whether Rongotai would provide a first-class airport. A member: The experts say so. Mr. Elliot: That was seven years ago. Mr. Appleton: The report Avas brought up to date. Mr. Elliot suggested that an expert commission should consider the point he raised. Nature had put obstacles in the way of a satisfactory airport at Rongotai, and that aspect should be investigated. • ' Mr. J. w. Andrews gave his wholehearted support to the proposal, Avhich he considered fair and reasonable. He was quite sure that the City Engineer and his officers had investigated all the points raised by Mr. Elliot. Rongotai Avas the ideal site. EXPERTS' ASSURANCE. Mr. Appleton said the city engineers report Avas based largely on the report of the commission of seven years ago. Before Mr. Luke brought doAvn his report they had an assurance from the experts that their conception of Rongotai Avould be quite sufficient, for some years any way. for Wellington. It Avas not likely to be able to take 60 to 80-passenger. planes from overseas. These would have to land at some centre like Ohakea or NeAV Plymouth, and an internal shuttle service instituted to and from those points. He added that adequate provision had been made for the houses that Avould be removed. Mr. R. L. Macalister hoped the board would give the scheme its full support. Rongotai was the only site within 35 miles of Wellington suitable for an airport. Mr. J. O. Johnson agreed that the scheme should be gone on with at once. Mr.' T. R. Barrel* suggested that the board's engineer should be asked to report on the scheme from the board's point of vievA'. Mr. W. I. J. Biyth said he had been told that the subAvay would only be as wide as the Hataitai Tunnel. That would not be nearly wide enough to carry the traffic. Mr. Appleton: It will be as Avide as the present road, which is about double the width of the tunnel. Mr.. Biyth: Even that will not be wide enough.