It's been interesting to spend time at Ohakea over the past few years. As the base development progressed, there was almost a visible lift in attitude from people stationed there. Yes, new facilities have changed work practices, but there is a notable change in attitude too. Pride in the work people do has always been there, but there is now a sense that they are being invested in with the sorts of facilities people expect in a modern professional workforce. That's a very real lesson.
There needs to be an RNZAF presence in Auckland. Coordination with Navy is a big part of it, but so is being closer to the Pacific Islands. The biggest factor is probably the recruitment advantages. I can't see the prospect of living in Bulls for 20 years as being very appealing to a teenage recruit from the North Shore.
But having an air force presence in Auckland doesn't mean there needs to be an RNZAF base. I wasn't pleased when National announced Whenuapai would be retained. I thought it was the easy route to take and seemed to be driven by a perceived need to reduce the number of issues the election would be contested on.
Going back through the announcements about retention, Wayne Mapp only seemed to be talking about the importance of keeping maritime assets (Orions and Seasprites) in Auckland. Transport didn't seem to be ever mentioned.
As a first choice for Auckland, I'd be moving the transport fleet to a dedicated facility at Ohakea. That facility needs to include full mockups of the cargo area for whatever transports we have, so loadmasters, air movements personnel and Army transport personnel can practice load and off load without needing to tie up an airframe.
I think Whenuapai should be sold. Much of the base is old, and the costs of operating an airbase for a small number of aircraft really don't stack up. Limitations of things like explosives (which can't be stored on base) mean that it doesn't have a huge amount of utility. I'd like to see the Crown invest in AIA, contributing to the cost of a second runway, and building purpose-built facilities for the Orions and Seasprites (and their replacements) on a dedicated area near the second runway. That may mean a need for a refurbishment at Papakura for barracks, etc.
Alternatively, Papukara should be sold and the SAS and TF shifted to Whenuapai.
I don't see the point of keeping Linton camp. The ranges can't be used, the facilities largely date from when the battalion moved back from Singapore (or older), and the place is in desperate need of some investment. There is a lot more land available at Ohakea, and shifting Army there will continue the momentum from establishing Joint Forces. Combined facilities are cheaper to operate (which is a bonus), but it also means a wider range of better facilities could be developed.
I'm much more relaxed about Woodburn. The defence presence there is small, the is an existing civilian airport and the co-location with the polyptych seems to work. There isn't a high marginal cost in operating the facility.
I don't see any real issues with a move to Mangere. It would be useful to keep the rotary and fixed wing together. Can't see much point in moving to Dairy Flat. Mechanics Bay could be made to work though.
