Airport Plans Progress At Wellington

Chronicle (Levin), 12 October 1949, Page 6

Airport Plans Progress At Wellington

■ WELLINGTON, Oet. li. Negotiations between the Government and Wellington Harbour Board on the proposed seaplane base at Evans Bay and Eongotai airport developmem, were virtually completed and requirea only forrnal ratification by the Government, said the Minister of charge of eivil aviation, Mr. Jones, today. ' ' Quite apart from the establishment of a seaplane base, the iocation of tne main runway at Rongotai slightly above sea level, raised the problem regarding a potentiai conflict between shipping and aircraft in Evans Bay,'-' said the Minister. ' ' The cooperation of the Wellington Harbour Board in the matter had enabled a satisfactory solution to be reached, both serviees to operate in safety and with miriimura interference with each other. Proposais for approaeh lighting and plans for landing jetties and mooring pontoons required to establish Evans Bay as an additional alighting plaee to Mechanics Bay in Auckland, are now well in hand and it is expected adequate facilities will be available in the near future for the new trans-Tasman Solent llyingboats to operate from Evans Bay. "So far as Rongotai is concerned," continued the Minister, "the beginning of the work is largely dependent on securing the cooperation of the • oilington Harbour Board. The board has agreed to give up its right of reclamation to an area of the seabed lying between the present foreshore and pro posed causeway startmg from Wellington Road and paralleling on the sea side the proposed reelamation for aero drome extensions. The Government rfc cognises that in making a number oi facilities available, the board has_ prejudiced proposals which it had itseli for future developmeut and the con cessions represent a very considerable contribution in actual cost toward the construction of Rongotai aerodrome. 7 ' On a similar basis negotiations were i now in hand with the Wellington Citj , Council whose interests were perhaps involved even to a greater extent than those of the Harbour Board.