Whenuapai airbase future hits more turbulence

By CHRIS DANIELS

The future of Whenuapai airbase is no closer to resolution, with a new kink being introduced into the process of deciding what to do with the land.

The Government was expected to make some sort of decision on Whenuapai this month, but the issue was not on the agenda at yesterday's Cabinet meeting.

The Auckland Regional Council has approached Defence Minister Mark Burton and asked for more input into the Whenuapai process from its Regional Growth Forum.

In its original submission to the Defence Force, the ARC said the future of the airbase was "considered to be a significant regional issue and not one that can be dealt with solely at a local level.

The growth forum has set up a "joint officials group" to look further into the airbase proposals.

The latest meeting of the Regional Growth Forum received a report saying that this group should be able to report to the minister, the ARC and the various city councils by June.