Army influx for Waiouru soon

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 455, 29 September 1992, Page 1

Army influx for Waiouru soon

By JanSavell The movement of the headquarters of 16 Field Regiment and establishment of 163 Battery in Waiouru will see 120 families and 180 more single soldiers shifting into the camp. Christmas this year is the deadline set for the move of the regimental headquarters and the headquarters of the battery. This will see 38 married and 40 single soldiers move to Waiouru. The balance will move in during the next four months with the whole move completed by May. The Waiouru kindergartens, living under threat of closure, are jubi-

lant over the news. The Ruahine Kindergarten Association cannot confirm any decision at this stage but locals believe they have a reprieve. Housing problem The move will create a housing shortage in the military camp. "Right now we're trying to find out more about the requirements. We've asked for specific details of the families," said Capt Scott Kerr from Army Training Group Headquarters. "We will be prioritising housing within the camp to help facilitate the influx. Our first aim is to move the families in before Christmas for the

start of the school year. The difficulty is the lack of three and four bedroom houses." Capt Kerr confirmed that a housing waiting list will be created for Waiouru but believes that this would have happened anyway as Waiouru has been experiencing a gradual population growth in the last few years. "We will be looking at each case individually, house by house," he said. "If there is a non-targetted house available it will be offered. There will be every endeavor to compromise, within entitlement. The options may not be desirable but we will do our best."

Office space compromise Office accommodation for the new unit will also be a compromise. The Army Training Group has been directed that costs for the move are to be minimal. "There won't be any flash buildings going up," said Capt Kerr. "We will be feeding them into existing vacant barrack and

office accommodation. We're trying to relocate the elements of the unit together and arrangements have still be ftnalised but it looks like the Headquarters will be split from the Light Armoured Detachment." The regiment will be under the command of 1 Brigade in Auckland. Maj Williams will be appointed to the position of commanding officer.