Ohakea: The Next Museum?

[Charl]

http://www.historic.org.nz/en/TheRegister/...keaHangars.ashx

Wonder if the concept of an independent Air Force has had its day?

[Ian Warren]

Hell off an impressive PDF and well worth printing out and bounded for your bookshelf in the NZ history area , most all historical items i have heard are or have been trucks to Wigram as well .

[HamiltonWest]

This the Media item Assoc with this:
Ohakea's vast hangars may yet fall
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5134170/Oh...rs-may-yet-fall

[connor]

I'm no military strategist, but doesn't it sound like a bad idea to "consolidate air force and army operations into a single Manawatu hub centred at Ohakea,"?

Just seem like a bad idea in a defense situation.

[Ian Warren]

More history possibly destroyed , one person i met from other side off the world , mentioned we build thing all great only to have money buggers want to rip it down for their own concerns .

[deaneb]

I spent half my Air Force career working in these hangars at both Ohakea and Whenuapai. There were limiting back then and are even more so now with upgraded fleets. Additionally workshops are shoe-horned into the limited annexes behind them. I can't see why they should be kept, they are concrete structures which are no longer fit for the modern Air Force. The've had their day. What point is there in keeping them - honestly?
I'd happily pick up a sledge hammer and take the first swing !!

[Ian Warren]

Thought Deane , I wonder maybe build hangerage the other side off Ohakea for updated and modern hangers , keep the old hanger structures for emergency , so many areas here in CHCH destroyed , maybe had they had Wigram and its original base in hand , base hospital , acomodation would have saved many , that,s what could have been done

[deaneb]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Jun 23 2011,7:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thought Deane , I wonder maybe build hangerage the other side off Ohakea for updated and modern hangers , keep the old hanger structures for emergency , so many areas here in CHCH destroyed , maybe had they had Wigram and its original base in hand , base hospital , acomodation would have saved many , that,s what could have been done

Logistically impossible. The RNZAF have been working to a timeframe and budget for years. The base is centered around the taxiways and the road access from the current position. I think its pretty rich for the Historic people to front up in the eleventh hour and throw all the good work into the air. Govt departments like the RNZAF are under enough pressure without that kind of nonsense. Pull them down and get on with it. Ask yourself how many businesses are still working in 1937 building which apart from some basic strengtheneing are basically unaltered?? People work differently now - like use computers now - ever tried to add a new powerpoint to a concrete wall, put in a new door, add a modern fire sprinkler system - seen it all done - a huge pain in the butt !!

[Ian Warren]

See your point Deane , strangely enough all to much is now happening in Christchurch - no one wants the buildings pulled down but when they are stuffed .. then another and another they are stuffed but seems the old Wigram hangers held up .. Bomb proved ? good construction ? , Rick stopped through today and from his contractors site as new as it is to be pulled down , around the corner the module design factory for D/glazed windows to be pulled down and next street up the powder paint to be pulled down .

I put my hand up to save Wigram years ago and simply thought the Gov would have sence , guest its the same NZ wide , but it is going to bite em in the ass , that nearly happened with the first quake in CHCH , no quick fast reponse because it was removed from the city , that course being Wigram .

[Esquire]

Although I can understand that a building may have outlasted it's original design and usefulness, it is a crime that it would be considered as surplus to requirements and pulled down to be replaced by what will amount to no more than a tin shed.

Retain the current buildings and build new ones on the site if they are really required. A new use for the old buildings will happen given the opportunity, and could generate some income through rentals or the like ... multi purpose is the name of the game.

I remember a certain movie filmed in the UK where they blew up a hanger at an airfield that was no longer valued... now people are crying foul! Once they are gone they are gone.

The historic report is a great read with heaps of info .... hopefully enough to maintin the integrity of the site.

Cheers Esq.

[deaneb]

QUOTE (Esquire @ Jun 25 2011,10:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Although I can understand that a building may have outlasted it's original design and usefulness, it is a crime that it would be considered as surplus to requirements and pulled down to be replaced by what will amount to no more than a tin shed.

Retain the current buildings and build new ones on the site if they are really required. A new use for the old buildings will happen given the opportunity, and could generate some income through rentals or the like ... multi purpose is the name of the game.

I remember a certain movie filmed in the UK where they blew up a hanger at an airfield that was no longer valued... now people are crying foul! Once they are gone they are gone.

The historic report is a great read with heaps of info .... hopefully enough to maintin the integrity of the site.

Cheers Esq.

You cannot retain old buildings in the middle of your operations, just on the basis that they "might" one day be useful. They either are useful or are they are not to the current owners.

[Adamski]

I'm a little confused about what's considered "worth preserving" here in NZ. There's been an almighty hoo-hah about preserving a disgusting rusty old tin shed on the waterfront here in AKL.

If the base is to remain [fully] operational for a fair while, then I think it makes sense to demolish these old hangars. Maintenance is only going to get more expensive with time.

However - if we really can't see the base (or even our Air Force) lasting out the next decade, I think they should be preserved for museum purposes - as by that time, tourism will be about the only industry left in NZ!

[markll]

QUOTE (connor @ Jun 23 2011,4:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm no military strategist, but doesn't it sound like a bad idea to "consolidate air force and army operations into a single Manawatu hub centred at Ohakea,"?

Just seem like a bad idea in a defense situation.

Its got nothing to do with "defense" any more - hasn't been a "defense" decision made about the armed forces in this country for decades...its all about money now...