DECISION REACHED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26692, 11 February 1948, Page 6

DECISION REACHED

RO'NGOTAI AERODROME MODIFIED SCHEME ADOPTED SHIFTING OF SIXTY-ONE HOUSES PA. WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, stated to-day that the Government had considered a report recently received from the special committee set up to deal with air facilities throughout the Dominion. This committee had reviewed a proposal submitted by the Wellingtdn city engineer, Mr K. E. Luxe, tor providing aerodrome facilities at Rongotai with a minimum disturbance of housing. With some modifications, the committee was of the opinion that Mr Luke’s proposal could be endorsed as being sound in principle. The committee stated that the scheme would provide for all immediate air transport requirements both in respect of day operations and limited night operations, and the scheme would lend itself to subsequent future development if and when such should become necessary.. Local Bodies Affected The whole proposal was discussed further to-day, Mr Fraser stated, with representatives of the City Council and of the Wellington Harbour Board, who were formally apprised of the modified recommendations of the committee and the Government’s acceptance of those recommendations. The committee’s recommendations involved the development of a substantial area now under the control of the Harbour Board, and the City Council itself was affected in many ways. The adoption of the city engineer's proposal would necessitate major alterations to tramways and general traffic routes and the shifting of main services such as water and sewerage. Further, it had to be remembered that the aerodrome up to the present was the property of the Wellington City Council and was administered by that body. The Ultimate form of control of aerodromes which had both a national and a local significance was now receiving the consideration of the Government. The first report received on Rongotai before the outbreak of the war involved the disturbance of upwards of sortie 250 houses. The houses which would require to be shifted under the city engineer’s present proposal were 61, in addition to which seven houses would have to be demolished on account of.their condition or because they were built of brick or concrete and could not be shifted. .

Fair Treatment Assured In discussing the matter with the local body representatives to-day, the Prime Minister stated that he had made it perfectly clear, with the expressed approval of all present, that every householder affected should be individually approached before any steps were taken to acquire his property. It was proposed to shift the 61 houses to alternative locations. , Individual householders would retain: the choice whether they would live in the alternative locations or be otherwise compensated. All the householders; concerned; would Lie approached 'courteously. and their co-operation requested. They would be treated fairly and indeed generously, and all the circumstances and difficulties would be taken into account in determining reallocation, replacement, or compensation.

Negotiations with the City Council and the Harbour Board, Mr Fraser continued, would now be proceeded with, but there were other important matters which would also require immediate consideration. Rongotai College was in the line of the main runway, and the adoption of Mr Luke’s' modified proposal would necessitate plans being prepared at once for the re-establishment of the college on an alternative site still to be acquired. Advantage will be taken by the Government to provide on a new site educational facilities for the area which it was not possible to provide with Rongotai College in its present locatibn.

The Prime Minister continued that the whole subject qf an aerodrome for Wellington had-been under review by the Government over the last 10 years. It had to be remembered, however, that at the beginning of the war an exhibition was held,on the site of the aerodrome and that during the' war, when the aerodrome was used for military purposes, development work, was not possible. Since the cessation of hositilities the exhibition buildings had been used for the storage of large quantities of Government-owned materials, and up to the present time any expenditure on providing alternative storage or for building another college or shifting houses. had been quite out of the question. . Mr Fraser said the Government had taken particular pains to examine every possible alternative to. Rongotai. No effort had been spared in the endeavour to find a site for the airport which would avoid disturbance to the housing involved at Rongotai, and It was with the utmost reluctance that the Government had come to the conclusion that no suitable alternative, to Rongotai could be found. He personally regretted • very much that the search for a more happy solution had not been successful. Four-year Project

In collaboration with the local interests involved, the Government would now proceed with the further necessary plans and preparations and with the work that it is at present possible to undertake, said Mr Fraser. It must be realised, however, that the rebuilding of Rongotai College and the shifting of the houses affected wouid take some considerable time, so that the full construction proposals submitted by the city engineer, even with the fullest co-operation of all/interests, would take at least four years to complete, possibly longer, depending on the availability of materials and other 3 “I am informed,” concluded Mr Fraser, “that there will be no need for the removal of any homes for a period of about Jwo years.”