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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 12, 2006 13:10:15 GMT 12
Defence Press Release
First Step in Ohakea Redevelopment
Friday, 11 August 2006, 12:26 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Defence Force
11 August 2006
First Step in Ohakea Redevelopment
Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Graham Lintott has welcomed today's contract signing with Beca Carter Hollings and Ferner Ltd (Beca) as the fist major step in the redevelopment of RNZAF Base Ohakea.
The base near Bulls is being extended to accommodate personnel and equipment from Whenuapai so the Air Force can consolidate its operations at Ohakea. The contract signed by representatives from Beca and the Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, commissions Beca to create a master plan for the redevelopment of Ohakea. "The consolidation of operations at Ohakea and the redevelopment of the base will create a modern and efficient platform for the Air Force to move into the future," said Air Vice-Marshal Lintott.
As prime consultant, Beca will assist in the complex planning, design and procurement process as well as develop a cost estimate for the project.
"Significant improvements to existing infrastructure and additional facilities will ensure Ohakea is a modern and functional base. Construction or alteration will take place in at least 68 areas; this includes facilities for the Air Force's new NH90 helicopters."
"Beca consultants have already begun work gathering information for the master plan, which will then be presented to Cabinet," he said.
ENDS
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Post by steve on Aug 18, 2006 1:26:41 GMT 12
Ohakea and Woodbourne will be the only two bases in a matter of 8 years. Lets hope whenuapai gets a civil airport status to keep it operational plus the Navy chopper operations
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Post by phil on Aug 18, 2006 9:36:47 GMT 12
6 sqn will be based out of Ohakea as well.
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Post by Bruce on Aug 18, 2006 13:04:16 GMT 12
6 Squadron at Ohakea? that basically sums up the common sense approach taken (Yeah right) Ships in Auckland, Helos in the Manawatu......  (maybe the Navy and Army are moving to Bulls as well - Would Te Kaha fit up the Rangatikei River?) |
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Post by phil on Aug 18, 2006 14:48:33 GMT 12
I'm pretty sure that was the plan last time I heard about it, but it may well have changed.
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Post by Calum on Aug 18, 2006 23:45:26 GMT 12
Maybe they'll build a aviation facitily at Devonport (if that's possible) AKA the the RAN's facility at Fleet BAse West in Stirling WA
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Post by phil on Aug 19, 2006 13:28:18 GMT 12
There is already talk of the Ohakea Hoist bay picking up the Sprite hoists and cargo hooks (currently these go away to the OEM). We already service the Mavericks and LAUs at Ohakea. More maintenance seems to be moving south already.
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Post by Kereru on Sept 6, 2006 16:47:55 GMT 12
On a light hearted note perhaps they could include some facilities for 777 and 747 aircraft diverted from AKL and CHC due to fog. It was a bit of a shambles for pax the first and hopefully the last time it happened. Military is the main purpose of the base but maybe some justification for extra spending in some areas?
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Post by phil82 on Sept 6, 2006 17:33:22 GMT 12
Sorry mate, but it wasn't a shambles at all! Ohakea is not equipped to deal with the MAF,Immigration, or Customs requirements of 1200 or so passengers. To allow them off the aircraft would have been, in fact, illegal! Furthermore, there are no means by which they could have unloaded all those aircraft, due to a lack of suitable stairs, and even if they has allowed them off, the only place to put them would have been a cold hangar with limited toilet facilities. In the end, the decision to keep the PAX on the aircraft was in their best interests.
No doubt if and when Ohakea becomes a joint civil/military base, things will change, but not until.
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Post by phil82 on Sept 22, 2006 13:32:19 GMT 12
The latest Air Force News has some detail on the Ohakea development, and it's a biggie!So big, that it will have an effect on the construction industry.
Specifically:
A new control tower, new hangars for 3 and 6 squadrons. Reconfigure existing hangars for 5 Sqn, Demolish 3 Hangar and replace with a new one for 40 Sqn., new purpose-built Airmov section, new MT/GSE workshops, new JRs club, new Wo and Sncos mess, new accommodation for 320. new in-flight kitchen, , new medical dental, new crash fire section, and a new guardhouse!
Go buy a house in Feilding fellas, values can only go up!
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Post by Calum on Sept 22, 2006 16:21:05 GMT 12
Sounds like a new base :-)
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Post by phil on Sept 22, 2006 18:50:01 GMT 12
Funny, I've just baught a house in Feilding...
And it will be pretty much a whole new base. The plans keep changing, but they are going to build new accomodation for 320, but not in barracks, they will be in flats similar to what they have in Woodbourne, and be situated on the triangle, down by the intersection with Tangi Rd.
The Main gate will move, possibly to the Museum end of the road, and the whole of Pukenui Rd will be part of base. I personnaly think they would be better off moving the gate to the Tangi Rd end, rebuilding Tangi Rd and making a major intersection by the bridge, move the 70/100 km demarcation south past this intersection etc. It will block SH if the gate is right on the intersection by the Museum entrance, at least if the gate is down by the corner of base and Tangi Rd, all the extra trafic can que on tangi to get through the gate. This will also be much more practical for those walking/running/cycling from Bulls. But what do I know! We've got a GPCAPT, 2 WGCDRs, a FLTLT and plenty of civi consultants to sort out all that!
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Post by phil82 on Sept 22, 2006 19:55:27 GMT 12
I knew the Gp Capt when he first joined; as a Direct Entry Works Officer!
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Post by Calum on Sept 22, 2006 21:40:37 GMT 12
Ohakea certainily is going to be a lot different than from what it was when I was there.
In 16 days it would have been my 20 years in, had I stayed....... In some ways I wish I had. But mostly I'm glad I didn't
I'll have to make the effort to get down there one day when I get back home.
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Post by Barnsey on Oct 5, 2006 23:27:18 GMT 12
Just confirm that the plan says to demolish 3 hangar? i.e. the 75 sqn hangar - let's ignore the lodger unit that's in there at the moment!
I thought there are heritage orders on the hangars. I seem to remember a plaque on the corner of one for something like "outstanding examples of NZ wartime engineering".
Then again, there was pieces falling off the ceiling and some sort of electrical treatment of the concrete reinforcing to stop it coming apart!
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(maybe the Navy and Army are moving to Bulls as well - Would Te Kaha fit up the Rangatikei River?)
