Council claims poll support for fast-tracked Whenuapai airport

Most Auckland residents support a second airport at Whenuapai, according to a poll commissioned by the Waitakere City Council.

The survey of 1512 residents found 53 per cent supported the idea of commercial flights starting at Whenuapai Air Base as soon as possible, compared with 15 per cent against.

Support in the northwest of the region, where the base is located, was 63 per cent compared with 59 per cent in a poll two years ago.

In 2004 the Government decided to delay a decision on the future use of the base because the Air Force would not have completed its move to Ohakea until at least 2010.

Since then, the council and its joint-venture partner, Infratil, have talked with the Defence Force about leasing capacity at the base and have been trying to build support for its joint civil-military use.

Poll respondents were asked their opinion on the Infratil-Waitakere City Council proposal for commercial air services to be developed as soon as possible at Whenuapai, providing flights to and from selected New Zealand, Australian and Pacific Island destinations.

The number of flights would be about one-sixth the total of those at Auckland International Airport at Mangere and the airport would concentrate on budget airlines.

The council said 18 per cent of respondents supported Whenuapai mainly to get quicker access to the airport, 10 per cent said they thought they would face less traffic congestion and 11 per cent hoped for cheaper fares.

The main reasons for opposing the concept were noise (4 per cent) and belief that another airport was not needed (3 per cent).

Asked about the poll, Whenuapai Airbase Action Group vice-president Roger Hadfield said access to Mangere would be greatly improved with completion of the Western Ring Motorway Route by 2011, so it made no practical sense to impose the noise of commercial aircraft movements on the residents of North Shore, Greenhithe, Herald Island and Whenuapai.