I strongly oppose the proposed $5 million Rotorua Airport revamp. We upgraded the airport five years ago and it is still very much fit for use.
I advise Mr Stubbs, the chairman: We ratepayers don't need and don't want the Koru Lounge. The Koru Lounge is for long-distance travellers.
Where are these travellers? We can't get enough of them to make sufficient profits to pay off our debts. Where is the money coming from?
Can you show us your strategy for turning a definite profit on this $5m outlay? If earthquake strengthening is required now, why wasn't it done at the time of the last upgrade?
Tourists are not going to fly into Rotorua because of the look of the airport. They are here for sightseeing and the most important factor is airfare costs.
