Whangarei Airport to get $1m upgrade

Whangarei Airport is getting an upgrade.

The Whangarei Airport in Onerahi is to have a $1.02 million facelift in the next year.

The final statement of interest for the airport's makeover was received by the Whangarei District Council last week. The project includes the upgrade of the taxiway and apron, expanding the terminal, extending the carpark and airport access.

The council's property asset coordinator, Caine Varley, said the improvements to the terminal would include more seating for passengers, upgraded bathrooms and the internal baggage claim area would be expanded. The expansion of the taxiway will make way for the bigger aircraft that will now be operating.

As well, pathways outside the terminal will be improved and there will be a second entry into the airport.

To fund the transformation, the council is putting forward $210,000, which will be matched by the government. The remaining $600,000 will come out of the airport reserve fund.

The work around the carpark and the front of the building will begin mid-July and take six to eight weeks, while work improving the terminal will also begin around this time.

Work on the taxiway and apron, to be done over five nights, is scheduled for October and November. The council hopes to have the airport revamp completed by March next year.

Last year, the Whangarei Airport Strategic Study found issues with the Onerahi site which included problems associated with Civil Aviation rules and runaway length. The study found that the airport is on its last legs and will only last up to 15 more years because of the inadequate runway size prompted by Air New Zealand increasing its fleet size.