North Shore joins Whenuapai airport fan club

North Shore City Council will take up the offer of Waitakere City and Infratil to enter a shareholders' agreement for a company to develop, operate and manage an airport at Whenuapai Air Base.

The decision to join in a company to be called Central Auckland Airport Ltd came after a split vote which was carried on the casting vote of Mayor George Wood.

Mr Wood said that if councils joined with Infratil there was a strong possibility they could operate at Whenupai under the Airport Authorities Act.

But Councillor Tony Holman argued that it would be a "reckless adventure" for the council to join a company without seeing a business case from Infratil.

Whenuapai Airbase Action Group president Russell Stewart said last night the council had not consulted the people as required by law and the group would take a case to the Ombudsman.

It would also fight Waitakere City Council's move to have the airbase rezoned as a special airport zone to protect the land for commercial flights after the Air Force withdraws.

Rodney District Council will decide whether to join the partnership today.

Waitakere and Infratil, which owns Wellington Airport, have talked to the Defence Ministry about leasing at the base and have tried to build support for its joint civil-military use.