Hospital Plans May Be Affected By Greymouth Aerodrome Development

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1947, Page 3

Hospital Plans May Be Affected By Greymouth Aerodrome Development

The possibility that the proxihiity of the airfield may prevent the proposed rebuilding programme being carried out by the Grey Hospital Board was mentioned at last evening’s board meeting, which decided to suspend activities in this connection until an investigation had been carried out. The necessity for another site for the hospital having to be acquired was also mentioned.

After a discussion had been commenced on the carrying out of test bores on the hospital grounds, Mr J. E. Stokes suggested that the board was rather putting the horse before the cart. “We are planning to spend a lot of money,” he said, “and we don’t yet know if the Air Department will approve of us building on. our present area. Dr McNickle (of the Health Department) told us during his visit here that it was going to be a fight between the hospital and the aerodrome. We may not be able to build and we should seek the true position from the Health Department,” he suggested.

Alternative Site If the Air Department refused to allow the construction of a doublestorey building, continued Mr Stokes, the board or the Health Department would have to look around for a suitable site on which to build the new hospital. Greymouth was being built upon very rapidly, he emphasised and it might become necessary to go outside the borough for a suitable area, though an assured water supply and a sewerage system were essential. “Before we spend any money making bore holes in the hospital grounds we should ascertain the at-, titude of the Air Department to our building proposals.”

Restricted Area Some of the proposed new building encroached on the restricted-area, said the secretary, Mr W. H. J. Watson,

who read a letter on the subject received from the Public Works Department. This letter pointed out that the boundary of the restricted building area, which was gazetted some time ago (running along the western side of High street towards the railway crossing and then cutting across the present hospital boiler house and children’s ward to the edge of the aerodrome) enclosed the ground required for the new maternity ward. “Head Office,” added the letter, “may not allow a two-storey structure there. Victoria Ward is similarly affected. The site for the new boiler house and laundry, between the tennis courts and' the air-radio station, however, are outside the rer stricted area.” Before seeking clarification of the position the department suggested that, in view of the recent developments in connection with the Greymouth aerodrome, the board discuss the proposals with a Public Works Department engineer, “Information is certainly necessary before we put down any bores,” said a member.

“It is no good boring on land when we may not be able to build on' it,” said the chairman, Mr F. J. Oakley. “All our plans in connection with rebuilding should be deferred until a report has been received,” suggested Mr T. P. Ryan, and it was decided that the board’s officers confer with the Public Works Department on the position.