Four options for Whenuapai

By WAYNE THOMPSON

Carving Whenuapai Airbase into lifestyle blocks - or using it for a prison - are among suggestions for its use when the Air Force moves out.

The Government yesterday put out a discussion paper in which it canvasses four possible uses for the 311ha base in west Auckland after the land's military role ends in five years.

Broadly, the four options are a civilian airport, public works or urban development, industrial development, or 4ha rural blocks.

The Government aims, however, to select a use that contributes to the local and regional economy.

The Waitakere City Council and the Auckland Regional Council prefer uses which will promote employment.

These could include manufacturing, regional shopping centre, office park, a regional hospital or a university campus.

But the city council is pushing Whenuapai as a second commercial airport for the region, saying it is the most promising way to cushion the economic shock of the base's closure, estimated at $235 million a year and more than 1600 jobs.

The Government paper says the base land and buildings could be sold or licensed to an airport company, or the city council.

Land not wanted for the airport could be sold through the Public Works Act process and involve the whole site if the airport proved to be not feasible.

Alternatively, the city council could seek to acquire the land under the act but it would stand second in line to land needs of Government departments.

Possible public uses range from a sewage works, a prison, state housing, or a comprehensive development of the site including "affordable" housing and a mixture of commercial and residential buildings.

A new town is a possibility. A major residential redevelopment could be centred around a new town centre. The base has 60 homes, sports fields and golf course, and about 100 houses lie nearby.

The base is outside of the limits for metropolitan urban development set by the Regional Growth Strategy, though Hobsonville base, a few kilometres away, is flagged as a key area for future housing.

Defence Minister Mark Burton said consultation on the discussion document was likely to include two rounds of public submissions until February, starting with a series of public meetings from November 10.

The options

* A civilian airport.

* Public work or urban development.

* Industrial development.

* 4ha rural blocks.

Public consultation on Whenuapai Airbase