“The Rains Came!” Central Coast Express Advocate, 3 April 1974,
This article provides compelling contemporary evidence of the practical advantages of the Central Coast Aero Club’s Warnervale airstrip over the privately developed Pollock Avenue airstrip at Wyong. Following heavy rain, the Pollock Avenue strip was completely inundated, leaving a visiting Piper Comanche stranded for four weeks. In contrast, the Warnervale airstrip remained fully operational, reinforcing the Aero Club’s long-standing argument that Warnervale was the more suitable location for the region’s future airport.
The article also reveals the Aero Club’s growing frustration with Wyong Shire Council’s delay in approving its development application. Despite having already constructed a 3,000-foot runway through member funding and voluntary labour, the club was still seeking approval to seal the runway and expand facilities capable of handling larger twin-engined aircraft.
Historically, this is an important document because it shifts the debate from planning theory to operational reality. Rather than discussing future proposals, it demonstrates how weather conditions directly affected the viability of competing airfields and strengthened the case for developing Warnervale as the Central Coast’s permanent aviation facility.
Historical significance reflects the importance of an item in documenting the history of Warnervale Airport, the Central Coast Aero Club and the surrounding community. A high significance rating does not indicate that statements, opinions, claims or predictions contained in the original material are endorsed by the Central Coast Aero Club or remain accurate today. Newspaper reports, letters and other historical documents are presented in their original historical context.
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