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A group opposed to commercial flights at Whenuapai airbase says most of the North Shore could suffer noise and pollution from aircraft flying overhead.
Whenuapai Airbase Action group (Waag) has published its own "noise map" on its website, showing parts of the city under the flight paths if two runways are used by commercial aircraft.
Airport investor Infratil says it has no plans to use the southern runway but the group, which has 1000 members, believes this will change over time.
It hopes its map will persuade North Shore City Council to turn against a push by its neighbour Waitakere City Council and Infratil for joint civil-military use of the airbase.
Waag backs Andrew Williams' challenge to North Shore Mayor George Wood, whose casting vote brought the city into joining Waitakere and Rodney in an airport company with Infratil.
The map shows possible North Shore flight paths and environmental effects if two runways are used. The map is also on the back of an election pamphlet distributed by Mr Williams, who had favoured a commercial airport but now says it would spoil the lifestyle on the Shore.
Waag president Russell Stewart, a retired airline pilot, said the map was his work based on a need to use a smaller second runway more suited for certain wind conditions.
"Infratil may well mean not to use the second runway at the moment, but I can guarantee if that runway is not dug up and Whenuapai becomes a commercial airport it will be used.
"It is long enough for a 737, the Air Force use it and it's an authorised runway. We are objecting to civil aircraft overhead every 10 minutes but not Air Force aircraft."
But Mr Wood said showing a second runway was a "red herring" which contradicted the flight path and noise effects maps Infratil had shown residents.
"Waag's map shows flights coming over the central North Shore area which I think is erroneous because it depends on use of the second runway. Infratil says it won't use it and it would be subject to a resource consent process anyway."
Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey was heartened by Air New Zealand's looking at the possibility of operating domestic flights from Whenuapai.
"Whenuapai is looking fantastic ... every month it's becoming more a reality."
He said if the airbase did not remain for aircraft to use in the event of the Air Force leaving, it would become a Housing New Zealand estate.
"Thousands of houses. It's unthinkable, unacceptable."
Whenuapai resident Graeme Barnard, who is standing for the Waitakere council, said the airbase must be preserved as a strategic asset rather than become housing land.
But he did not believe Auckland was ready for another airport.
Waag had done some good research to show the East Coast Bays and Greenhithe would be badly affected by increasing frequency of aircraft.
Infratil spokesman Tim Brown said the main runway was 2031m long, which was slightly longer than Wellington Airport's, of which Infratil is major owner. "We do not anticipate using any runway other than the main one."
