AIRPORT FOR WELLINGTON

Chronicle (Levin), 1 May 1946, Page 5

AIRPORT FOR WELLINGTON

-Press ' 'Association

COMWTTEB MPORTS ON FACIllIffiS

By Telegraph—

' Reporting to the Gby:er nm.ent'-'oii the 'qiiesti'ofi of -airpon; faciiities for Wellington, "the special comffiittefe appointed by the Prime Minister (Mr. Frasef) statfes thdt thefe is ho pifacticable alternative to Rongotai which would provide a satisfactory civil aerodrome for the city. There is no way of providing a'satisfactory airport at Rongotai which will rtot involve the ultimate incorporation of the residehtial area north of Couttg Street. The committee, however, has found it is possible to improve very considerably the flying conditions at Rohgotai without encroaching on the residential area, afid- has reeommended certain works to achieve that. end, and which would form part of a plan for the ultimate development of the airport.

The committee was asked to Consider this aspect, subject to an overriding limitation that no encroaehment may be made on the fesidential area at least Withiii the next three years. Stage one, as rebommehded by committee, would proVlde in the permanent location a landing strip and paved runway 2,500 feet long, with clearances closely^ approaching internationai standards. • It would also providte a ealni wfeather, tuff landing strip 4,800 feet long in a horth-West to south-east dir'ection. All that would be achigved Without interfering with any houses, . but would invblve moving Rong6ti5a .Cdllege and thfe Ekhibition buildings. Stage two woitld fextfend thfe ihain landing stfip to 3600 fefet, with clearahces as in sta,gfe ohe, and ihVolve the rfemoval of hinety houses and their re-erfectidn. The co'mriiittee recommencis that this st'age should follow as soon as pfafe'ticable. St'age three would be undeftaken when traffife requirfements made he'cessary the provision of a paved ta-xiway, and would give standard intefhational clearances.,fbr a 3600 ft. , landing strip. This stage would ifivpive the removal of a fufther 56 houses. Stage four, the final development, would provide in a propfer difectioh.

a landing strip cdnfbfmin'g to internationai staridards for classes of aircraft expected to be in use. The corhmittfee states that . reelamations which are ftfopbsed as an intfegrai part of the dfevelopineht would make Uvaiiable an area 6f abbut actes, Whffeh would bfe more than sufflcient to accbmmbdate all tfie houses rebUifed to bfe ihoved frbhi 'the. airport site. It is fecommehded that &ri eficlosing wall be built as a p'aft of stage o'ne. ahd that hlliilg by the Boadford tip inethod of rUbbish disposal proceed, so that feonsbliddted recl'airned land will be- availabie for, either hbusiiig to accbhimbdUte fiamilifes whose hou'sfes are tnoVfea Ifi stages two and three, br aS additiondl fecreatibilUi reserves if it is firiaily decided to usfe the golf course fOr housing. Stage one .iribliidfes a small reclam'ation oif Lyail Say beach; ehclosfed by a „sfea • wall, hnd t'hfe r embvai bf thfe Exhibitioh buildings ahd Rbhgbthi dbilfegfe, 'giyin'g a rUnWfey rbughiy horth 'an'd south td west of the present aerddfoihe. Stages two and three extend this runway throUgh the fesidferttial area to the shdre of Evahsi Bay, dnd includes reclanlatibn bfehihd the seawall of area in EvM's Biay fdr housing ahd rfecreatioh. Stage four is a further exterisioft of the strip upon the additional reclaimed lahd.