Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 7, 2016 21:36:56 GMT 12
This is a turn up I never expected...
Army basic training set to shift from Waiouru to Burnham
KIRSTY LAWRENCE AND MYLES HUME
Last updated 16:35, April 6 2016
DAVID UNWIN/FAIRFAX NZ
Basic training is set to shift from Waiouru to new facilities built in Burnham, Christchurch.
The New Zealand Army is set to shift basic training for new recruits from Waiouru to the South Island, downgrading the central North Island military camp.
The shift, planned for after 2018, will see all new recruits undergo basic training at new facilities built in Burnham, Christchurch.
The headquarters training, doctrine command, the army command school and the army depot would also be shifting to Burnham.
The move was driven by families wanting more say over posting locations and more choice with housing and jobs, Chief of Army Major General Peter Kelly said in the Army News newsletter.
"Unfortunately, as great as Waiouru is, it cannot and will never be able to provide this level of choice," Kelly said.
"What is clear is that the majority of our army must be located by major cities."
Kelly said this would give families the ability to build links into the community, and as Linton was already at or near capacity, Burnham allowed the capacity to expand.
Waiouru was 63,000 hectares and Kelly said it was the largest and most important training area, and the only area in New Zealand where they could conduct combined arms live field firing training.
This training would continue in Waiouru, but he said it was time to utilise other training areas in Christchurch, Tekapo, and the wider South Island.
"My intent going forward is that Waiouru will continue to be our premier training area for combined arms training, including all aspects of live field firing and we will invest heavily into future proofing the training area to meet our operation needs."
HOW WILL WAIOURU COPE?
Waiouru Panel Repairs owner Murray Burt said the basic training moving wouldn't affect their business.
"The last one to go out can turn the light off.
"There is bugger all here anyway, our [business] comes from out of town."
Burt said when numbers had started dropping at camp originally they had diversified, so this recent change wouldn't affect them.
"It doesn't really affect us.
"We just carry on."
Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie said the move meant more families leaving Waiouru, which was sad for the town but wouldn't make a big difference.
"Waiouru has been dramatically downsized over the past few years, so the significant impact has already happened," he said.
"We'll just have to find other ways of sustaining the town and the broader community around it."
Four Square manager Kevin Stephens had only just read the news.
"I haven't had time to digest it."
He did not expect there to be an immediate impact.
"I don't think anything is going to happen for the next couple of years. It is not going to happen overnight."
He hoped it would be business as usual in the meantime.
SELWYN WELCOME BURNHAM ARMY PERSONNEL
Burnham's Military Camp is situated south of Christchurch in the fast-growing Selwyn district.
Mayor Kelvin Coe said the influx in army personnel was good news.
"It is a positive development, and we welcome this news . . . We don't believe it will add pressure but that it will complement the growth and development of the area."
Selwyn's estimated population is 53,800 and is expected to grow to 86,400 by 2040. The district has been one of the fastest-growing in New Zealand, recording 6.5 per cent population growth in the year to June 2015.
A new report shows the district's GDP grew by 4.4 per cent in 2015, ahead of national GDP growth of 2.4 per cent and regional Canterbury growth of 1.9 per cent.
"The council has been and will continue to invest in new community facilities to support our growing population as growth continues," Coe said.
Families wanting more opportunities and the need to base more soldiers near cities have largely influenced NZDF's decision. The Burnham camp is 30 kilometres from central Christchurch and 6km from Rolleston, Selwyn's biggest town.
Rolleston property developer Russell Lilley, who has lived in the town for 43 years, said the construction of a new motorway would make Christchurch more accessible.
"Rolleston's a growing town and with the industrial area, which is meant to be one of the biggest in New Zealand, there's going to be plenty of work for everyone. The infrastructure they have in place and are going to have in place is quite huge. So it definitely is a better place for families to move to."
The town had already seen large shopping centre developments in recent years. Lilley said plans were in the works for another development behind Rolleston Countdown.
- Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz/national/78614567/army-basic-training-set-to-shift-from-waiouru-to-burnham?cid=facebook.post.78614567
Army basic training set to shift from Waiouru to Burnham
KIRSTY LAWRENCE AND MYLES HUME
Last updated 16:35, April 6 2016
DAVID UNWIN/FAIRFAX NZ
Basic training is set to shift from Waiouru to new facilities built in Burnham, Christchurch.
The New Zealand Army is set to shift basic training for new recruits from Waiouru to the South Island, downgrading the central North Island military camp.
The shift, planned for after 2018, will see all new recruits undergo basic training at new facilities built in Burnham, Christchurch.
The headquarters training, doctrine command, the army command school and the army depot would also be shifting to Burnham.
The move was driven by families wanting more say over posting locations and more choice with housing and jobs, Chief of Army Major General Peter Kelly said in the Army News newsletter.
"Unfortunately, as great as Waiouru is, it cannot and will never be able to provide this level of choice," Kelly said.
"What is clear is that the majority of our army must be located by major cities."
Kelly said this would give families the ability to build links into the community, and as Linton was already at or near capacity, Burnham allowed the capacity to expand.
Waiouru was 63,000 hectares and Kelly said it was the largest and most important training area, and the only area in New Zealand where they could conduct combined arms live field firing training.
This training would continue in Waiouru, but he said it was time to utilise other training areas in Christchurch, Tekapo, and the wider South Island.
"My intent going forward is that Waiouru will continue to be our premier training area for combined arms training, including all aspects of live field firing and we will invest heavily into future proofing the training area to meet our operation needs."
HOW WILL WAIOURU COPE?
Waiouru Panel Repairs owner Murray Burt said the basic training moving wouldn't affect their business.
"The last one to go out can turn the light off.
"There is bugger all here anyway, our [business] comes from out of town."
Burt said when numbers had started dropping at camp originally they had diversified, so this recent change wouldn't affect them.
"It doesn't really affect us.
"We just carry on."
Rangitikei MP Ian McKelvie said the move meant more families leaving Waiouru, which was sad for the town but wouldn't make a big difference.
"Waiouru has been dramatically downsized over the past few years, so the significant impact has already happened," he said.
"We'll just have to find other ways of sustaining the town and the broader community around it."
Four Square manager Kevin Stephens had only just read the news.
"I haven't had time to digest it."
He did not expect there to be an immediate impact.
"I don't think anything is going to happen for the next couple of years. It is not going to happen overnight."
He hoped it would be business as usual in the meantime.
SELWYN WELCOME BURNHAM ARMY PERSONNEL
Burnham's Military Camp is situated south of Christchurch in the fast-growing Selwyn district.
Mayor Kelvin Coe said the influx in army personnel was good news.
"It is a positive development, and we welcome this news . . . We don't believe it will add pressure but that it will complement the growth and development of the area."
Selwyn's estimated population is 53,800 and is expected to grow to 86,400 by 2040. The district has been one of the fastest-growing in New Zealand, recording 6.5 per cent population growth in the year to June 2015.
A new report shows the district's GDP grew by 4.4 per cent in 2015, ahead of national GDP growth of 2.4 per cent and regional Canterbury growth of 1.9 per cent.
"The council has been and will continue to invest in new community facilities to support our growing population as growth continues," Coe said.
Families wanting more opportunities and the need to base more soldiers near cities have largely influenced NZDF's decision. The Burnham camp is 30 kilometres from central Christchurch and 6km from Rolleston, Selwyn's biggest town.
Rolleston property developer Russell Lilley, who has lived in the town for 43 years, said the construction of a new motorway would make Christchurch more accessible.
"Rolleston's a growing town and with the industrial area, which is meant to be one of the biggest in New Zealand, there's going to be plenty of work for everyone. The infrastructure they have in place and are going to have in place is quite huge. So it definitely is a better place for families to move to."
The town had already seen large shopping centre developments in recent years. Lilley said plans were in the works for another development behind Rolleston Countdown.
- Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz/national/78614567/army-basic-training-set-to-shift-from-waiouru-to-burnham?cid=facebook.post.78614567
