TIMARU AIRPORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23215, 31 May 1945, Page 7

TIMARU AIRPORT

Further Expenditure Opposed Decision Of Chamber Of Commerce “A pressing need in South Canterbury is an airmail service. Every day we read of plans and preparations being made all over the world for post-war air transport of mails, passengers and goods. We can only have these services provided when we have a modern airport,” said Mr S. G. McClelland in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening-.

“The Timaru Borough Council, as the controlling authority, has a duty to South Canterbury as a hole,” continued the speaker. “Already, the Council has evidence that the people of South Canterbury desire the best in the way of an airport. The South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce proposal for a modern air field at the Levels is the only solution of the Borough Council’s dilemma. Two floods in three months have convinced us of the fact that Saltwater Creek airport is what we thought it was —a perfect dam with a large catchment area. The six months’ postponement arranged at the local bodies conference has now expired. A decision has to be made by the Mayor and councillors of Timaru who convened the original meeting. It is pertinent to ask what are they going to do about it?”

The Timaru Airport was useless to South Canterbury, said Mr V. W. Wilson. In the last five or six years South Canterbury had been left behind in the development of facilities for post-war aviation. In bad weather the Timaru airport was the first to become unserviceable in the South Island. When there was a ceiling of 50ft it was impossible to land a plane at Saltwater Creek because of the adjacent hills. Although Timaru did not have a firstclass harbour, it could possess a firstclass airport. At the height of the flood plaiies could have landed on the proposed site at the Levels. As a representative of the South Canterbury Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr Wilson assured the Chamber of the Union’s co-operation in getting the new site. He had interviewed the two farmers owning the property on which it was proposed to have the new airport, and they were willing to sell outright. The new site would provide runways suitable for the needs of big planes. Creek Caused Flood The flooding of the airport at Saltwater Creek had been caused by a defect in the mechanism of the gate at the outlet of the creek and by a gap in the dyke which contained the creek, said Mr P. W. Young. As a member of the E.P.S. stationed at Saltwater Creek during the recent emergency, he had inspected the outlet with the borough engineer. The gate at the outlet held the drainage water until it built up sufficient pressure to open the gate. The volume of water was then sufficientlj' strong to clear a way through the shingle to the sea. Owing to faulty maintenance, which was the responsibility of the Public Works Department, the gate did not function, and abetting this was a 30ft gap in the dyke made by the flood waters. Through this breach the airport had been flooded. Before this happened the airfield had no surface water. During the February flood the airfield had been dry on the second day, but later had been flooded by similar circumstances. Mr Young-said he did not say this in support of the present site, but to give the Chamber the facts. Mr W. S. Minehan said he did not altogether agree with Mr Young. Accompanying floods almost Invariably were strong sou-’westers and heavy seas which, he thought, would be too strong to allow the inside pressure of water to operate the gate. At Pareora the sea percolated through the shingle into the dam and it was not unlikely that the same thing happened at Saltwater Creek.

According to an opinion expressed by a pilot, the present aerodrome was suitable for single-engined planes, said Mr A. J. Parris. If the wind were in the right directipn a twin-engined plane could take off. For a fourengined plane the port was impossible. It was pointed out by his informant that in taking off in a northerly direction the houses on the hill would present a hazard to the airman, who would have little chance in a crash landing if his engines cut out. In taking off that was always a possibility. Landing at night or during a fog would not be possible because of the surrounding hills. Mr Parris said that the pilot was impressed with the site at the Levels. He suggested that 300 yards should be added to the planned length of runways of 4000 ft, and so accommodate the heaviest of planes. If this were done, it would be the finest airport in New Zealand. Apart from the incident of flooding, said Mr Parris, Saltwater Creek was a natural dam serving a large catchment area. The following resolution moved by Mr Minehan was adopted: “That a letter be sent to the Minister of Public Works protesting against any further expenditure on the Timaru airport by the Government as the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce considers the airport totallv unsuitable. If any money is available 'it should be spent on the site selected by the Council at the Levels or on a more suitable site.”

That a letter be sent to the Timaru Borough Council asking that, in view of the happenings, of the last four months, it is still of the opinion that th® Timaru airport is on a suitable site? was the text of another resolution adopted on the motion of Mr J. M. Bishop.