CCAC HISTORICAL ARCHIVES

The Rains Came!

April 3, 1974

Source Citation:

Central Coast Express Advocate, 3 April 1974, “The Rains Came!”

★★★★★
Notable Historical Significance
Valuable evidence comparing the reliability of the Central Coast Aero Club's Warnervale strip with the privately operated Warner Avenue airstrip. Demonstrates why Warnervale was viewed as the superior long-term site.

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.

THE RAINS CAME! Recent heavy rain demonstrated again the superiority of the Central Coast Aero Club’s Warnervale airstrip on the local flying scene. The pictures above show the two district strips after the rain. At top is the completely inundated, privately-owned strip near Pollock Avenue, Wyong. Below is the CCAC’s Warnervale strip – still completely serviceable. A twin-engined Piper Comanche aircraft from Coonabarabran, trapped on the Pollock Avenue strip for four weeks, had to be towed by four-wheel drive vehicle and manhandled over a large drain to a water-free area on Wyong Racecourse so that it could be flown to the CCAC’s all-weather airfield at Warnervale. A CCAC spokesman said yesterday the club had been trying unsuccessfully for two years to convince Wyong Shire Council of the futile nature of the private airstrip in a low-lying swampy area. “The club has 3,000 feet of runway at Warnervale, which is virtually an all-weather airstrip, compared with the other airfield,” he said. “We have at this moment an application before council which, if approved, will lead to the tar-sealing of a central runway of 3,000 feet by 60 feet. This strip will accommodate twin-engined aircraft of the 10 to 12 passenger type. “The club has been continually frustrated by council’s indecision and has made representation to local, State and Federal Members of Parliament about its development application approval. “Another meeting with council, the State Planning Authority and representatives from the Department of Civil Aviation is expected in the near future. “Council could be asked why it supports a private enterprise as against a local club that wants to instigate all types of flying and flying training to cater for the present-day interest and also for the young people to come. “Our members have contributed greatly to their airstrip development in the way of cash and voluntary labour and want to impress upon council and the public that this airfield at Warnervale will be a public convenience that is greatly needed on the Central Coast and should be provided by council. “However, in the event of continued disinterest by council, we are prepared to continue efforts to establish a much-needed facility for the Central Coast and the Wyong area in particular,” the spokesman added.
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