AVIATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 66, 13 August 1947, Page 5

AVIATION

SITE OF AERODROME •LETTER FROM MINISTER Writing the Borough Council last Monday evening, the Minister of Works (Hon. R. Semple) forwarded a plan showing the proposed site of an aerodrome for Whakatane and alternatively an adjoining area which had been set aside for provisional survey.

The Minister stated that the Crown Lands near the golf links appeared to be the most suitable area, and though the work had been given a high priority in the Bay of Plenty in the face of more urgent national undertakihgs it could not be treated as such until these were completed. As soon however as staff were available a full survey would be made and in the meantime steps would be taken to ensure that any occupation of the land would not delay the making over of the area. “This is a very serious matter for Whakatane,” said Cr Canning. “Unless we can find an area which is suitable, pretty soon, we will be left behind.” ' Cr Warren: We have made exhaustive enquiries about other sites, and we find that this is the only one that is suitable or available. Unless we get the sandhill site. I’m afraid we won’t get our aerodrome. The Mayor raised the question of the sandhill land being Crown lands as the Minister had assumed or Native land, Which he had heard it was, from Rotorua. This point should be finalised before anything further could be done. He pointed out also that whatever type of aerodrome was established it would only be 3rd class, or to serve as a feeder field for the larger ’dromes elsewhere.

The Council decided to write away to the Minister seeking information on this point.