PLANS FOR AIRFIELD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 38, 9 June 1947, Page 5

PLANS FOR AIRFIELD

ALREADY DRAWN UP “ONLY POSSIBLE SITE” An assurance that the sandhills site had been definitely selected for the Whakatane district airfield and that plans for its construction had already been drawn up and that construction would not be long delayed was given by the Minister of Work, Mr Semple, during his visit to Whakatane on Thursday.

For the information of the Minister it was explained by Mr J. L. Burnett that the committee interested in the airfield had communicated with various “Government heads” and had not been able to reach finality. The site selected was only five miles from Whakatane and was on Government property. The Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, explained that the county council, borough council and aero club had formed a committee which had agreed that the sandhills site was the best site for an airfield. The member for the district, Mr Sullivan, had taken up the matter with the Minister of Defence.

Mr H. G. Warren, on behalf of the committee, explained that the aero club had 120 members, many of them with distinguished records in the Air Force. The district also had a fine Air Training Corps. It was regrettable that there was not a paddock in the district from which these men could fly. He recalled that in former years planes had used Luxton’s paddock, but this had since been turned down as an airfield by the authorities. The sandhills site was practically the only site for an airfield in the district. Other sites were rendered unsuitable because of trees, power lines, and drainage canals. Mr Semple’s Reply Replying to the previous speakers, Mr Semple said that engineers of his department had already investigated the site and had come to the conclusion that it was the only possible site for an airfield. Plans had been drawn up. The Whakatane airfield was included in the projects on the 10-year plan for the Bay of Plenty. .

Mr Warren expressed the satisfaction of the airfield committee for this assurance. He hoped that Mr Semple would authorise construction without delay. It was recognised that Mr Semple was probably the greatest authority on aerodrome construction because many had been built during his term as minister. Mr Semple (jocularly): I have built a few.

Regarding the Government’s policy for local airfields, Mr Semple said that the Government had recently set up an Air Board to deal with this matter, and the policy to be pursued had not yet been finalised but was before. Cabinet. However, the main thing was to get on with the job. He could not give any detailed information as to the Government’s policy. It was a very big question.

“I am told,” added Mr “that this is the only site for ) an airfield and that there is no other site suitable near Whakatane.

“One advantage is that it is Crown land so that it will not cost very much to acquire, and being sandy country it is not very productive. What is its value? Will it feed a billy goat?” he asked humorously. “Duplicating Paraparaumu” “We built an aerodrome at Paraparaumu, near Wellington on sandy country and it is one of the best in New Zealand,” said Mr Semple, in explaining that the sandy soil consolidated well after it had been grassed and rolled. Mr Sullivan had been to Paraparaumu and could support him in this. Mr Sullivan: Duplicate Paraparaumu here and we will be satisfied.

Concluding the discussion, Mr Burnett expressed the hopes of Whakatane people that Mr Semple would authorise construction at an early date.

Mr Semple remarked that construction would take less time than grassing of the surface.