CIVIC AIRPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25259, 20 July 1945, Page 8

CIVIC AIRPORT

FURTHER STEP TAKEN SUPPORT FOR MANGERE REPORT BY CONTROLLER Auckland'-s search for a municipal fair port was advanced a stage further yesterday, when a conference of in- .. terwiod organisations received a report .from the acting-Controller of Civil Aviation, Wing Commander J. M. Buckeridge, on the suitability of extending the present Mangere aerodrome toward the Manukau Bridge at Onehunga.:'Wing Commander Buckeridge said that at present it was the opinion of officers of his department that the most likely and promising locality for the development of a major airport for 'Auckland was in this district. Wing Commander Buckeridge said the question of finding a site in the close [vicinity of Auckland for development into an airport capable of handling all classes of internal traffic and of sufficient size to cope with possible overseas requirements had been considered by his technical officers in collaboration with the aerodromes section of the {Works Department. Advantages ol Mangere

"A preliminary general survey,' : jWing Commander Buckeridge continued, "tends to confirm the original opinion that the Mangere area is the • most favourable site for a major internal aerodrome and one capable of possible further development to the ultimate requirements of large international services. The prime advantages of Mangere are unobstructed_ approaches and freedom from conditions of poor visibility. These particular advantages, it should be noted, deteriorate as one approaches the Onehunga and Otahuhu areas. ."The existing aerodrome at Mangere is. capable of development to provide two main runways for domestic operations of 4500 ft and 6000 ft and additional advantages are that there are no construction difficulties involved in ifiuch an extension of the present field." Other Sites Mentioned Wing .Commander Buckeridge said .. there was an alternative site west of Mangere. However, it displayed no advantages superior to those obtainable at the existing Mangere aerodrome. It was possible that there might be a site suitable for development south-east of Mount Mangere and south of the .tipper Manukau Harbour, but this area • jwould" possess all the disadvantages for approach procedure which were found • by flying tests to obtain over the Otahuhu reclamation site. A site in Little Shoal Bay was not recommended for further investigation. Discussing the question of an overseas airport, Wing Commander Buckeridge said that runways of the minimum desired length of 7000 ft, together ;with flightways of two miles on a gradient of one in 50, were generally not obtainable sufficiently * close to a , city to be economically suitable for use toy interna! air services. However, in 'jthe case of Auckland, the only site 1 iwithin reasonable distance of the city ."where the requirements for an overseas liairport could be provided was Mangere. | Development Problems ~ Wing Commander Buckeridge forwarded a number of plans and lay-outs showing possible development of the Mangere site. He noted the desirability of providing a parallel runway system for a combined overseas arid internal 'airport, and said that in the lay-outs prepared the provision of parallel run--1 ways fitted easily into the general scheme and would involve no special expenditure ill the initial, jsisKss* The flightways approaches \yere good fihd the control of obstructions within ithe flightways would be nuuih easier than, was generally the case because of ithe nature of the terrain. Heavy earthworks or reclamation would be involved by the lay-outs provided, but to offset this necessary'laqd acquisition, interference with existing roads, houses and so on would be comparatively light. Furthei Steps Urged

It was emphasised by Wing Com- - taiander Buckeridge that 1 : s remarks should not be taken as the finally considered opinions of his department, as only a preliminary survey had been inacle. To investigate the matter fully would involve the employment of a field staff to carry out detailed field surveys and ■ investigations. The cost of this Work would irun into several thousand Wing Commander Buckeridge added that it was the firm opinion of his department that every step should be '."proceeded with to decide on the location and construction details of the proposed airport, even if its development was deferred until a more appropriate a::.l convenient period. The existing Aero Club aerodrome at Mangere, lie said, already had its limitations to serve possible immediate post-war internal commercial air services. The conference agreed that the suggested survey should be proceeded with and,decided to ask local bodies if they ■'[were prepared to contribute to its cost.

SURVEYS REQUESTED

CITY COUNCIL ACTION A recommendation by the Mayor, Mr '{J. A. C. Allum, that the Government l)e asked to carry out detailed surveys in the Mangere district necestary for the selection of an aerodrome site was adopted by the City Council . last night when letters on the subject were received, from the acting-Con-jtroller of Civil Aviation, Wing Commander J. M. Buckeridge. The council also agreed to contribute . -CO per cent of the total cost of this •fwork on the basis of the mean of rate- • .able capital value and population spread over the local bodies in the '.metropolitan area. It was decided to I press for urgency and to offer the council's assistance m any manner possible. Mr Allum said he proposed to call W conference of local body representatives for August 18 to discuss the question of contributing toward the cost ...of the surveys. The cost should not exceed .£3OOO or £4OOO.

NORTH SHORE TRANSPORT

REPLIES TO CRITICISM "The decision not to grant a baa for j'fthe Narrow Neck area from the 11.25 r p.m. boat was made by the No. 1 Licensing Authority, and was based •wholly on the acute shortage of tyres," eaid Mr A. 8. Bailey, managing director of the North Shore Transport Co., Ltd., i yesterday, in answer lo criticism made ( fit a meeting of the Devonport Borough Council on Wednesday night. The company would be prepared to make further representations to have this bus put on the timetable when the re position improved, air ! it bad under . consideration an extension of the service by running a late litis direct from the city to serve districts as far as Milford. This bus would be convenient for 'those wantjng to stay in tins city until midnight, and would he taken across ~"fc|ie harbour on a vehicular ferry. ,')Regarding the .suggestion of the ..jjßlayor, Mr J. R. Miller, that an advisory committee should no set up, Mr j Bailey said that this bad been in operation for some time, in conjunction with the .Borough Council. Further meetings !"witn a committee representing all the ;local bodies in the area would be wel'comed.

"I am at a loss to understand the insinuations of Mr M. M.ikle that the 'council's representations have never been listened to and have always been : 'ba_slied,' " said Captain E, A. Parker, , assistant manager and traffic manager of the Devonport Steam Ferry Co. The company-had received a delegation from the North Shore Boroughs' Association recently, and their representations were now .under consideration.