19-3-93 22-3-93 Wigram By DAVE WILSON The closing of Wigram in 1995 should be the end of major Defence base and camp rationalisation, says the Minister of Defence, Mr Cooper. He said in Christchurch yesterday that savings through the closing of Wigram and North Island bases at Papakura, Hopu Hopu, and Fort Dorset meant the military was increasing the value of the money available to it. "Apart from some minor real estate readjustments, such as Shelly Bay in Wellington, we are i well placed now for a reasonable time. While any funds from the disposal of Wigram would be re- 'end of m turned to Defence, Mr Cooper could not put a value on the base, or predict a sale price. The air force, in its Project Recast study that recommended closing Wigram, noted • that the base's proximity to Christchurch and its better opportunities for commercial exploration meant that disposing of it would probably realise a greater return than disposing of Woodbourne. Any future use of the base after the air force leaves would depend on planning decisions made locally and whether local enterprise wanted to use Wigram. "I don't think there will be much assistance from the government by way of a reduced price, ajor base because there really won't be a high price from it." Wigram would not close until late 1995 and there was plenty of time for entrepreneurs to develop schemes for the site. The Government approved of Wigram being closed as a means of Defence living within its reduced budget after spending cuts of $112.5 million in 1991, rising to $150 million in the iwo following financial years. "But as far as I am concerned we have reached the end of the base ciosings, provided we maintain the funding level to Defence of 1.5 per cent of GDP. "That is the minimum credible level we can have if we are to closings' maintain effective forces that are credible in the eyes of our defence partners." He was in favour of strengthening defence ties with Australia, with a logistic support ship for the army planned once the air force's Macchi jet trainers were paid off. The ship, needed to deploy the army around the Pacific, may be a trans-Tasman project, with New Zealand owning the ship, but sharing it with Australia. "It's an Anzac approach. We supply the ship and they supply the helicopter and we share time with it. We are having preliminary talks along these lines." 23-3-93 Wigram Sir, -How delightful these autumn evenings are without the planes from Wigram buzzing overhead on their night training circuits. Every 45 seconds a roar overhead would drown out the television. The days are more relaxing, too. Six hours of aircrait noise overhead was certainly a trial of nerves. Now, thanks to Ruth Richardson, Wigram is to be phased out. I, for one and there are hundreds of others), am delighted at this decision. There is an important lesson to be learned from the Wigram situation. Areas surrounding airports musi be kept free from urban development. For Wigram, this was impossible. For Christchurch Airport, it is not quite too late. The developers are there waiting for the slightest relocation of city or regional counci by-laws. Then they will be in, subdividing up to the edge of the runways. if they can get away with it.—Yours, etc.. Mayor's dogfight IT is encouraging to sec the Mayor, Vi - action to salvage something from the o has revealed figures which show that the rosy as has been paraded. Wigram has been part of the city's big part of our aviation history. It woul Zealand's air force was tossed aside for ‹ icki Buck, fighting a rearguard losing of Wigram air base. She overall savings might not be as fabric for many years and is a d be a pity it the cradle of New small savings. Wigram Sir,-As a former "air force brat" I read with interest your editorial on "Closing Wigram" (March 17). In all the feasibility studies supposedly carried out, l been wonder if one has ever made as to the possibility of consolidating the forces; ie, maintaining the status quo at Wigram, and moving the army from Burnham to Wigram. Moving activities at King Edward Barracks and HMNZS Pegasus should not pose any major logistical probiems. The army could save money in the form of travelling allowances, there would be less wear and tear on their vehicles, the community would benefit from the increased population, and supposedly everybody would be "happy" (if that can every be so). I am curious about one thing, however. What are they doing at Woodbourne these days that a move would take them 13 years to recover from?-Yours, etc., PAT QUARLES. March 17, 1993. 23-3-93 Wigram Sir,-I am appalled that Wigram, with all its facilities and history, could be cut up and lost to the city forever when the air force vacates. Surely the Air Force Museum, voted New Zealand's best tourist attraction, must suffer from loss of income if the airfield closes and events such as "Wheels and Wings" cease. This should not be allowed to happen, together with the $26 million loss in business and jobs to the region. Last week the Customs Department announced that it had lifted restrictions to allow New Zealand companies increased tendering opportunities world-wide for aircraft maintenance, which earned New Zealand $65 million last year. We must ensure that Wigram remains an airfield and full support be given to those companies wanting to establish such aircraft-related industries there. Only by doing this can we ensure that the museum remains a viable tourist attraction and reverse the financial loss to Canterbury and create much-needed, new, long-term employment opportunities.-Yours, etc., L. B. HENRY. March 18, 1993. Sir,-Congratulations to Denis Hampton and Steven Graham for their supportive letters (March 19) in the "Wigram War." It is ironic that our Government, which has a seat on the United Nations Security Council, an organisation responsible for worid security, has allowed New Zealand's defence capability to slump to a pathetically low leve! and now, to save a few million dollars, is about to throw away the country's oldest, but modernised, military aviation establishmeni. W. A. Sutton, in his recent letter on the Cathedral (March 19), commented: "Dunedin, with a third of our population, raised $1,480,000 to restore its splendid First Church. Where is our civic pride? Of course, you vamerbury!" I shall risk his wrath at being a plagiarist by commenting: Canterbury must make a lastditch stand to save its first, splendid military base. Where is our sense of duty and our loyalty one of Canterbury's most famous citizens, Sir Henry Wigram? Of course, you Canterbury!- Yours, etc., J. K. MOIR March 19, 1993. GEOFF LEICESTER March 15, 1993.