WESTPORT AIRPORT TO BE LARGELY IMPROVED

Grey River Argus, 17 April 1948, Page 8

WESTPORT AIRPORT TO BE LARGELY IMPROVED

There has been a decision on the part ot the Government to extend the north-east to south-west runway at the jxawatiri airport so as to give this worK that apparently amounts to an urgent priority. This iniormation was uonvtyea on Thursday afternoon to executive of the Westport Gon duo. The club’s playing limes will be seriously curtailed in size by the contemplated extension. A letter signed by Mr R. S. Dawber, senion engineer or the Public Works Department, Westport, has been received by tne secretary ot the Golf Club. It states: “1 have been instruct-

ed by Head Office to advise you that it is proposed, immediately, to extend tne nortn-east-south-west runway ox the Westport aerodrome in a southwesterly direction, so as to bring this strip in line with what will be provided on the pricinpal internal airports of the Dominion. This extension. with provision for future widening of tne runway, will involve a considerable encroachment on the golf links, as shown in an attached pian.

The Lands Department has already been advised not to renew the lease ox the Golf Club over the area that is required for the extension. Steps are being taken to arrange for the required area to become available forthwith to the Department' for ' aerodrome purposes. A survey of the ground is now in hand. The exact area will be marked out as soon as possible. Tills is likely to be a nigh priority job. It is possible that tne work may be put in hand before tne survey is completed.