KUMARA 'DROME SITE

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 October 1944, Page 3

KUMARA ' DROME SITE

ADV.ERSEREP.ORT. Mr J O’Brien, M.P. for Westland, has received the following reply from Mr. Jones (Minister of Defence) concerning representations made for the construction of an aerodrome at Kumara: “With further reference to my letter of September 28, quoted reminder for your information, is the text of a report submitted by the Public Works Department following its investigation in the matter: “ ‘I have to advise that the area at Kumara proposed as a site for an aerodrome to serve the Greymouth-Kumara-Hokitika area was recently inspected by the district . engineer, ■Greymouth. A portion of the endowment used as a racecourse was adversely reported on as a possible aerodrome site- in my memorandum dated 8/11/39 addressed to the Air Secretary. The reasons for this adverse report—poor drainage and soil conditions, and excessive cost of development—still hold, and are generally applicable to the whole of the Kumara flat between the town and the railway. The soil conditions over the whole flat are generally uniform, one to three feet of peat, muck and clay overlying cemented shingle deposits. Development would be costly, and when’ the removal of bush and excavation of adequate outlet drains is added, the cost of even a small field would become very high. It is not possible to give an estimate of the cost of developing an aerodrome at Kumara. but it is considered that the cost of a similar aerodrome to that proposed at Hokitika would be about double that of the latter. The only justification for an aerodrome in this locality would appear to be the need for a centrally situated aerodrome to serve the northern portion of the West Coast area, capable of handling tne larg’ersized aeroplanes. Such an aerodrome could be constructed on the Kumara flats near the coast, which is the only site recommended as suitable. “You will see from the text of the Public Works report that there would be little to justify a proposal to construct an aerodromeat Kumara at the present juncture,’ said Mr. Jones. “I presume you will communicate with the Kumara Borough Council and the Westland District Progress League, and advise these two bodies . of the results oi the investigations.”