MORE LAND NOW REQUIRED FOR WAIROA ’DROME

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22690, 15 July 1948, Page 6

MORE LAND NOW REQUIRED FOR WAIROA ’DROME

ESTIMATED COST £23.000

A main runway of 4110 ft. as a minimum has been stated by the Aerodrome Committee as one of the requirements for the establishment of a feeder-service aerodrome at Wairoa. Estimates had been taken out to show that the establishment of a grassed fie’d world cost approximately £23,000 and the provision of stabilised runways would cost £50.000.

Correspondence has been passing between the Wairoa County Council and the Minister of Works, lvir. R. Semple, and the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. E. L. Cullen, on the importance of establishing an aerodrome at Wairoa and the information above has been extracted from a reply made by Mr. Semple. .Ample For Club Flying The area of 204 acres, which was at present owned by the Wairoa County Council and which was being held for an aerodrome that would be suitable struction ol three runways each otiauit. long. Mr. Semple said it was hardly sufficient for the principal runway of an aerodrome that would be suitable for feeder line services and further land would need to be obtained. It was, however, ample to provide for club flying. The mau.er had been considered by the Aerodromes Committee, wrote Mr. Semple, which agreed that an aerodrome of that type ultimately would be required for Wairoa, but the committee considered that there were many other aerodrome works of higher priority which should be undertaken before Wairoa.

“In constructing and maintaining aerodromes, the Works Department acts as the agent of the Civil Aviation branch of the Air Department and it is really for this latter department to initiate any work that may be considered necessary,” Mr. Semple wrote. “However, i agree that the comparative isolation of Wairoa and the fact that road and rail access are liable to be dislocated in bad weather, makes provision of at least an emergency landing strip desirable.”

To Have Been Done Years Ago

In correspondence with the Civil Aviation Branch, Air Department, the council has inquired when the Aerodromes Committee has decided that work should commence on the construction of the aerodrome. It was considered, in view of the assurance given by Mr. Semple, that construction work was to have been done some years ago. As the position had not altered in any way since then, it was stated that there should be no further delay. A copy of that letter was sent, for information, to Mr. Cullen.

At a recent meeting of the council, the chairman, Mr. A. T. Carroll, said the council did not wish to have it said that it was not moving in the matter. The letters brought the position up to date. It was the council’s duty to keep interest alive in the formation of a landing strip and every possible step would be taken to have the work completed.