New Airport At Whenuapai Not Needed

New Airport At Whenuapai Not Needed
Wednesday, 18 February 2004, 5:19 pm
Press Release: Manukau City Council  

The Strategic Development committee of Manukau City
Council last night endorsed the viewpoint that a
second commercial airport is not needed and should not
be supported. The matter will go before the full
Council later in the month.

Manukau mayor Sir Barry Curtis says it is not
necessary to develop a second international airport at
Whenuapai given that the existing airport in Mangere
has the capability to handle growth for the next 50
years.

A second runway at Mangere has already been approved
and planning is well underway. It will take pressure
off the current runway and will handle primarily
smaller planes.

Sir Barry says, "A new airport at Whenuapai would be
an expensive luxury and I don't see the need for it
because as a region we have much more important uses
for our limited public funding, such as improving
storm water treatment facilities and upgrading
transport. The public are crying out for better public
transport and action to unblock our congested
motorways, not another airport. 

"It could also create logistical nightmares for the
flying public as there would be many occasions when,
in transferring from different flights, passengers
would have to travel from one airport to the other.

"Developing Whenuapai would also displace economic
value from other airports and aerodromes already in
existence.

"It could result in significant public resources being
diverted from other projects and the loss of future
land development opportunities in Waitakere, Rodney
and North Shore. 

"Whenuapai is outside the established metropolitan
urban limits and should be kept undeveloped and in
public hands until a wider strategy can be worked out
for its use in future. 

"I accept that Manukau City Council has an interest in
the future growth of Auckland International Airport,
as a shareholder. But, putting that to one side, my
position on this issue reflects my belief that there
are more reasons to not develop Whenuapai than to
develop it."


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