PROPOSED AERODROME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 11, 1 October 1943, Page 5

PROPOSED AERODROME

THE TE TEKO SITE

COUNTY COUNCIL MOVES

Despite the disagreement of the two Borough delegates,, on the grounds of distance from Whakatane, the County Council has decided as part of its rehabilitation proposals to seek advice Irom the. Air Board on the suitability or otherwise of the Te Teko plantation site as a potential, aerodrome for this district..

Reporting on the conference' "with the delegates from the Borough Council (Messrs B. S. Barry, J. Creeke and D. V. Saund.crs) the chairman said that Mr Barry had stated that he did not. think the Borough ratepayers would agree to a proposed loan for a site, so far away. They would also be faced with two major loans—sewerage and water supply after the war. Sites suggested were: First preference, behind Mr Hyde's property, Poroporo: second preference, Mr Shaw's property, Paroa; and third preference, Mr Gobbie's property, Awakeri. Stumped) and Grassed With regard to the Te Teko site in its present state the special subcommittee set up recommended that tenders be called for the firewood available in one lot and that measures be taken to have the area stumped and grassed with a view to having it available, as an aerodrome site. Discussing the 'Borough proposals, the chairman said that for a start it would bo necessary to find something like £(.i()00 to purchase Rvde's property of which sum the county would have to lind 00 per cent, and the Borough 40 per cent. Then there would be the cost of laying it. out and draining it. Against the proposal the county already held a suitable piece of land which would cost nothing apart from something like £25 per acre for stumping and levelling. He did not suggest that this be done right away but in possibly 18 months time when the stumps would be sufficient]}' rotted. Councillors Views Cr McGougan pointed out that t'hc ratepayers would probably object to an expensive undertaking and he could not. see any arguments for an alternative site while they held the Te Teko area. It was reasonably central and only awaited development., The chairman added that there were people who contended that aerodromes should be a national matter, but there were, so many in this country now that unless a district was prepared to help itself it would be by-passed.

Cr Luxton said in his opinion it was no use rushing in and building acrod romps for.at least another three years when the Government's policy with regard to future air services would lie finalised and when, he hoped, men would be released from the air force for civil aviation. He considered that at Te Toko they had the ideal site and even if the council 'sat put' he felt, sure it Mould come its way when the air circuits were, being planned. Economic Aspect The chairman: Even if the. air service took the site over we would' be recompensed for what work we had done. Cr McCracken could not see why the Borough objjected. The Te. Teko site would mean only a matter of hundreds while anj T other would run into thousands.. He also drew attention to the fact that the County only held the land from the, Gov-i ernment for the purpose of tree planting. Any variation of this arrangement. would, have to be sought. The chairman: We have had it as a capital asset and. used it. We would only be seeking to finance its further development with funds received from the sale of timber. Cr Burt thought, that a few thou-< sands when it came to a matter of the correct site should not be stinted as the. aerodrome would, be a permanent establishment. Cr Luxton said that if fortunate enough to get a visit from an A,ii f r Board officer the Council should be prepared to submit alternative sites if tiie Te Teko one was described as unsuitable. The resolution mentioned, in the introduction was then put to the meeting and carried.