NEW AERODROMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23124, 24 August 1938, Page 15

NEW AERODROMES

NORTHERN DISTRICTS MILITARY STATION PLANS • AREA AT WHENUAPAI •CHOICE-OF OTHER-SITES The Government's plans for the construction of aerodromes in North Auckland, from the Waitemata Harbour to the Bay of Islands, were reviewed yes- ' terday by the Prime | Minister, Mr. Savage, in a statement.* The-Royal New Zealand Air Force station'at-Hobson-ville was being extended and remodelled as an aircraft base and f repair depot, he said. Workshops, main stores, bomb stores, increased accommodation for personnel and other subsidiary buildings were to be provided. The flying field had recently been considerably extended.

A new military operations station, was to be constructed at Whenuapai, Mr. Savage continued. An area of isome 600 acres was being acquired and construction of the flying field, hangars and buildings would commence shortly. . Extensive surveys had been completed and preliminary clearing work was already in hand. Airport for Whangarei Difficulty was experienced in obtaining a suitable site for an aerodrome to serve Whangarei, but an excellent area was finally located on the Onerahi Peninsula, he said. The land had been acquired under the Public Works Act and preliminary clearing and reroading work was in progress. Tenders for the main construction work on the flying field had been called, and full development would be put in hand fliis spring; An area of Crown land had been made available at Kerikeri and construction work was in hand. Progress had been retarded because of wet weather and difficulties met in working the hard ground. No suitable site for an aerodrome at Waitangi had been located, although . many sites had been inspected. A full investigation and survey of several possible sites at Kaikolie was now being carried out by the Public Works Department. five Bites had already been inspected. Extensions at Waipapakauri The Waipapakauri aerodrome was at present licensed, but was restricted in area, and work was now in progress on extensions to make the ground safe for use by larger aircraft, the Prime ister added. The existing field -was to be improved by the installation of a subsoil drainage system. Work had been temporarily suspended during the winter. An area of tidal flats at Rawene was being reclaimed by stop-banking, using unemployed native labour. Part of the area reclaimed was to be made available as a landing ground. Two sites at Dargaville, one at Awakino Road and the other at Parore, had been investigated and surveyed in detail, but neither was ideal.. Further investigation was desirable before a site was adopted and public money spent.