Ohakea's vast hangars may yet fall

The Defence Force says plans to heritage-list two giant 70-year-old aircraft hangars at Ohakea won't stop it from demolishing the buildings if it has to.

The World War II hangars are "two of New Zealand's outstanding engineering achievements of the 20th century", the Historic Places Trust said when it announced on Friday it planned to give the buildings category 1 heritage listings.

The listings do not protect the buildings but, if reinforced by a designation in the Manawatu district plan, could seriously hinder Government plans for further major development of the base.

The Government last year announced plans to consolidate air force and army operations into a single Manawatu hub centred at Ohakea, which could involve a substantial redevelopment of the base.

Defence environment planner Gary Pennefather said the Defence Force accepted the buildings had heritage value and did not oppose plans to list them. But Ohakea was an operational airfield and the hangars were right next to the base flight line where there was not a lot of room for handling bigger aircraft.

"There is a strong possibility those hangars will not meet the air force's operational purposes ... and we can't guarantee we can protect them," he said.

Defence has also told the trust that financial constraints meant it would only actively manage one hangar as a heritage building.

Trust heritage adviser Blyss Wagstaff said the hangars, which were completed by the beginning of 1940 to accommodate a squadron of 12 bombers, were historically significant.

They were among the first air defence structures to be purpose-built for the RNZAF to improve New Zealand's air defences.

The hangars were enormous – 94.5 metres by 64m – and their reinforced-arch concrete construction was unique.

The design was a significant engineering feat at a time when construction materials were sparse, and time critical. Looming over the base, the hangars had aesthet-ic, architectural, social, historical and technological significance.

Trust central region coordinator David Watt said the listing would require the Defence Force to consult on changes it might want to make to the hangars to protect their character.

However, historic listing did not prevent building owners from applying for demolition.

Public submissions on the listing proposal are due by June 21.

OHAKEA HANGARS

Built between 1938 and 1940 by McMillan Brothers for 105,000 to house a squadron of 12 medium bombers as New Zealand built up air defences at the start of World War II. Designed by Public Works Department chief design engineer William Turner, who came up with an innovative plan to use reinforced concrete arches because structural steel was not readily available.

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