TIMARU AIRPORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20481, 28 July 1936, Page 6

TIMARU AIRPORT

BUILDINGS AREA In a report to a meeting of the Timaru Borough Council last night the engineer (Mr T. O. Fox) stated that a letter had been received from the acting-Engineer-ln-Chief of the Public Works Department, accompanied by an approved layout for what was termed the buildings area of the port. This plan showed four hangar sites totalling 800 feet by 100 feet, administrative block, an asphanted “apron” in front of the buijdings approximately 1300 feet long, and a new access road 20 feet wide commencing at the junction of Lagoon Street and King Street. There was also marked an area of land required for future development. The acquisition of the latter entails the closing of a certain length of Shaw Street, of Rothwell Street and of Simmonds Street, and the purchase of over 50 sections, upon half of which there were houses. The engineer stated that it should be noted that the letter of the Englneer-in-Chlef stated that the layout shown was the one that was recommended, but that should the Council desire some alternative scheme, it would be necessary to first obtain the approval of the Controller of Civil Aviation. He suggested that the Controller be written to pointing out that the Council was already involved in a very large expenditure in the purchase of land and the formation of the port, and that the areas now being acquired would give ample room for an administrative block and hangar space sufficient for air traffic many times the volume that now existed, and that might reasonably be expected, even if Timaru were made a terminal point for one or more services. It should also be noted that there was considerable vacant land adjoining the port which could be acquired by any Aviation Company and used as hangar sites without encroaching upon the landing field. By placing the hangars parallel and close to the north-western boundary of the port, 700 lineal feet of hangar should be obtained and ample room for the administrative block. It was decided to ask Mr Gibson, of the Public Works Department, to interview the Council a' the first available opportunity. Cr. M. H. Richards expressed a hope that the airport would be started as soon as possible. The Mayor (Mr P. C. Vinnell) explained that the Council had done all within its power to facilitate the commencement of the work. Many men were anxious to start on the job. Cr. H. J. Mathers considered that the Council had done all that was possible in the meantime.