FLYING-BOAT BASE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23103, 30 July 1938, Page 10

FLYING-BOAT BASE

rose bay, Sydney MUCH LOCAL OBJECTION TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT [ FROM OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT] SYDNEY. July ;>« Work is now in progress at Rose Bay, Sydney, upon the construction of t'ri9 necessary buildings for the final base in Australia of the Empire flying-boat mail service, and for some little time two of the flying-boats which are to be used by Qantas. Limited, for its portion of the run—between Singapore and Sydney—have been anchored there. The first of the flying-boats to carry mails for Britain left Sydney on July 5. Ever since it was first proposed to make Rose Bay the Sydney base for the flying-boat service there has been much local objection on the ground that the buildings there would spoil the beauties of this beautiful bay in Sydney Harbour, but the Federal Government felt that it must go ahead with preparations in the most suitable bay in the harbour for the purpose. Land has therefore been resumed, and a hangar which will eventually house the flving-boats and an administrative office and control tower are being built. A slipway is also to be made which will enable the flying-boats to float direct from the sea into the hangar. The Commonwealth has given an assurance that Rose Bay is only to be used as the Sydney flying-boat "base for a few years. Ultimately it proposes to build a permanent base at Botany Bay, but this will be a costly undertaking which will take a few years to complete, as a breakwater will have to be constructed to ensure calm water for the flying-boats. The Rose Bay hangar will undoubtedly spoil the pleasant view of the harbour now to be obtained from the links of the Royal Sydney Golf Club and from some residences there, but the residents will have to put up with this until the Federal and New South Wales Governments between them are willing to face the heavy expenditure of providing a permanent base at Botany Bay.