Tahiti law planned for disused French base

3:22 pm on 3 November 2015

The French Polynesian government says it will draw up a law in the territorial assembly to advance the reconversion of a former French military base on Tahiti.

Clsoed French military base in Tahiti

Closed French military base in Tahiti Photo: RNZI Walter Zweifel

The base in Arue was closed and in 2008, the then French defence minister said Paris would be selling the land back to the township for one euro.

Plans for the future use of the base have been blocked, with France now saying the local council lacks the powers to develop the site.

The territorial government has now restated that it will legislate to grant the local council the competence to deal with the projects.

First defence cuts began after 1996 when France completed its nuclear weapons testing regime in the South Pacific

Disused French military base in Tahiti

Disused French military base in Tahiti Photo: RNZI Walter Zweifel