Whenuapai airport closer to takeoff

By CHRIS DANIELS, aviation writer

A commercial airport at Whenuapai has come a step closer, after being approved by an Auckland Regional Council study.

Waitakere City Council, in partnership with the investment company Infratil, is promoting the idea of a commercial airport at the base when the Air Force moves out by 2007.

It says it will be ideal for low-cost airlines and much easier for many Aucklanders to get to.

A confidential report just completed by regional officials says an airport is the only idea for the site that fits in with regional strategies.

The North Shore City Council last week decided to support an airport at Whenuapai, and Auckland City Mayor John Banks has also joined the bandwagon, expressing his personal endorsement in a letter to Finance Minister Michael Cullen.

"What we have in Whenuapai is a major piece of working infrastructure that will enhance the economic competitiveness of Auckland without shedding a dollar from the ratepayers of Auckland City," Mr Banks said. "By itself this makes Whenuapai a good idea."

A decision on whether to allow a commercial airport at Whenuapai was to have been made by the Cabinet in April, but the issue was sent back to the Auckland Regional Council, which had asked for more input into the process.

The Regional Growth Forum then set up a "joint officials group" to look into the proposals. This group has now finished its report, which will be presented to the forum tomorrow afternoon.

Officers from the ARC and the Waitakere, North Shore, Manukau, and Rodney councils all took part in the investigation, which was designed to "form a regional opinion" on the best possible future use for Whenuapai.

The Auckland City, Papakura and Franklin councils decided not to take part in the study.

"Taking into account the three key issues, and comparing all of the options, as well as that no 'public works' other than the airport options have been identified, the only option that 'satisfies' all of those key issues is the airport option with ancillary activities," says the report.

Manukau City Council is now left isolated among local authorities in opposing the Whenuapai plan.

It owns 9.58 per cent of Auckland Airport, worth $177 million.

Auckland City still owns a 12.7 per cent stake in the airport company, worth $236 million. After selling half of its shares in the company in December 2002, the council promised not to sell the rest until two years had passed.

Auckland Airport management says there is no need for a second airport in the region and developing one would be a waste of resources.

That view is supported by Helensville MP John Key, and many residents around Whenuapai are concerned at the potential for more noise from a commercial airport.

The chairman of the Waitakere City Council's mayoral taskforce on Whenuapai Airport, Bryan Mogridge, said the most logical approach was for Whenuapai to continue as an airport.

"By and large the only people against it are Auckland International [Airport] - so you'd expect that."

"I think now it's time for the Crown and city to sit down and talk about how this would work."

Mr Mogridge said the plan had been going back and forth for two years now and it was time to "get on and do it".