Whenuapai decision up in air

The Government is sceptical that Whenuapai Air Base could be a viable commercial airfield, but its future might not be decided when the issue comes before the Cabinet today.

An announcement on Government thinking may come this afternoon but, equally, ministers may kick for touch and not make any decisions before the Christmas break because there is no pressing need to.

The Air Force will leave the base sometime between 2009 and 2012, consolidating its operations at Ohakea.

The Waitakere City Council is seeking to fill the economic black hole with a commercial airport on the site, supported by infrastructure investor Infratil.

But even if the Government does not support a commercial airport option, under the Public Works Act the council could buy the base and go ahead with an airport anyway.

Finance Minister Michael Cullen is understood to be one of the most sceptical about the merits of a commercial airport at Whenuapai and Beehive insiders say it is hard to see how the proposal is viable.

Dr Cullen is supported by a report to Defence Minister Mark Burton that concluded there was "no rationale" for the Government to promote Whenuapai's use as a commercial civilian airport.

Local Helensville MP John Key, National's finance spokesman, also doubts that Whenuapai is a goer as a commercial airfield.

"If it was a serious airport, doing some really good things, you could vaguely understand that it was worth it but it's going to be such a tinpot airport," he said.

Only six of the airlines that fly to Auckland could land at Whenuapai.

Mr Key said the Government also faced rising border biosecurity costs and the last thing it needed was another international airport.

Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton, who rejected media reports in October that he supported the commercial airport plan, could not be contacted yesterday.

Infratil has said a North Shore airport would be more accessible than Auckland Airport at Mangere for up to 520,000 people in the region.

Air base options

* Do nothing until the Air Force has consolidated at Ohakea.

* Run Whenuapai as a joint civilian-military airfield.

* Sell the base to the Waitakere City Council so it can establish a commercial airfield.