18-8-98 Wig ram suSp Wigram residents say they suspect collusion between three parties interested in the future use of the former RNZAF base. They claim that the City Council, the Crown, and Ngai Tahi descendants of the ( their rights to the requisitioned under Act for military use. u acted to strip the onginal owners of part of Wigram the Public Works Halswell-Wigram Rural Residents' Association chairman Paul McManus raised local concerns at a city council hearing on a variation to the proposed City Plan on the future of Wigram. The decision of independent commissioner Bruce Thompson is expected in the next few months Mr McManus said questions were raised by the minutes of closed City Council meetings obtained under the Official Information Act in April last year. The minutes of the council subcommittee on Wigram covered 10 months from August 1995 to May 1996. The sub-committee included three council and three Ngai Tahu representatives. "It appears council, Ngai Tahu and the Crown did not want Wigram airfield broken up," Mr McManus said. The tone of the minutes suggested government was encouraged to alter the Airports Act so that Ngai Tahu could run an airfield, he said. By ANNA PRICE "It should be of great concern that the planning took place in publicexcluded meetings between council and Ngai Tahu appointees to collaborate to form an airport company to run over the right," Mr McManus said. The minutes showed considerable discussion about avoiding obligations of the Public Works Act, he said In February 1995, council reaffirmed its prime objective for Wigram as a recreational airfield with aviationrelated industry and other compatible activities provided there was no conflict with Christchurch Airport. Residents say they are horrified a the prospect of 70,000 flights a year and an unmanned control tower. The 70-strong residents' association now awaits Transit New Zealand's decision on the alignment of the Souther Motorway. If realigned, it will border Wigram airfield. Meanwhile, a city planner Ivan Thomson says a plan variation would formalise the use of Wigram as an airfield and include other activities such as housing and light industry servicing A current designation permits Ministry of Defence to use the area for helicopter training for the next two years. icion Driver training a possibility A professional di for high risk youth has been suggested It would be the New Zealand. river training school and repeat offenders for Wigram air base. : first of its kind in The New Zealand says the concept is options. Trust chairman describes it as a "VE ibility". Dr Fahey envisa Road Show Trust one of several Morgan Fahey ery exciting poss- ages two-day pressure-cooker training course run by professionals for the high risk group recidivists, other driving offenders, and those referred by the courts. "We'd look at bringing in young people who have never had professional instruction and assisting those whose instruction may not meet the requirements of the new licensing changes," Dr Fahey said. The trust is made up of Police, Land Transport Safety Authority, Automobile Association, Occupational Safety and Flealth and traffic engineer representatives. Ngai Tahu Property Group, which owns the former RNZAF base of more than 250 hectares, has declined to com- ment before a hearir future of Wigram air The City Counci change to fornialis airfield. ng decision on the base. i seeks a zoning e Wigram as an