Rivals lock horns over Whenuapai

By CHRIS DANIELS aviation writer

Rival commercial interests with a stake in the future of Whenuapai Airbase have unveiled their ambitions - or lack of them - for the site.

The Air Force is moving out of the base in the next five years, and the Defence Force has asked for public feedback on what should be done with the site.

Listed infrastructure investor Infratil has joined forces with the Waitakere City Council in a bid to use Whenuapai as a new commercial airport.

Auckland International Airport says there is no need for a second airport in the region and that such a move would be a waste of resources.

It has commissioned an economic analysis that shows selling Whenuapai for "a purpose other than a commercial airport" would net a higher return for the Government. This study shows a "highest and best use valuation" of $152 million - a $24 million premium above the Infratil-Waitakere City Council scenario.

Infratil, in its submission to the Government, said that if the new commercial airport failed, the Government could always do something else with the land. It pictured the Crown granting the company and the city council a long-long lease over most, or all, of the airport.

This could happen after an "initial period of civil operations and after the comprehensive development plan had been developed, but some form of agreement will be necessary before Infratil commits capital for runway repairs, terminal development etc."

Outlining the regional airport market, Infratil said it had had preliminary discussions with a number of local airlines and interested parties. "Feedback has been favourable, albeit contingent."

Developing the airport would depend on the extent of interest from airlines, and big money would be spent only once there was certainty of use.


A slow development, with turbo-prop aircraft would require little spending, but jet use would mean a significant investment.

Civil aviation at Whenuapai would not rival Auckland Airport. The venture's 10-year target was to "stimulate a market equivalent to approximately 15 per cent of the base Auckland air travel market".

Auckland International Airport, in its submission, outlined the history and research that went into the original decision to build an international airport at Mangere. The logic of the 1950s and 1960s was still valid, it said.

With full resource consents in place for the future construction of a second runway, the Mangere site could meet the region's aviation needs for the next 50 years.

"AIAL is not afraid of competition, but competition must be on a level playing field. Any element of subsidy for the purchase of the Whenuapai land, or sale of the property at less than market value, will not result in fair competition."

New Zealand already had seven international airports and there was no need for a country of this size to have eight.

"Whatever infrastructure problems Auckland has, they do not arise from inadequate or inefficient airport facilities. Extra resources, therefore, should not be spent on the development of such an infrastructural asset."

* The Government is due to make a decision on the future of Whenuapai in April.