Night lights to give Kaitaia 24-hour airport

By TONY GEE

KAITAIA - An upgrade of Kaitaia Airport to allow round-the-clock operation under a new, community trust-based management structure now looks certain.

The Far North District Council, which controls the crown-owned airport, has agreed to pay one-third of the estimated $180,000 cost of installing runway lighting so fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters can operate 24 hours a day in all weather.

The council-owned Far North Holdings, which is contracted to run the country's northernmost airport, ends its involvement on June 30. A community-based trust will be formed to take over the role.

The council's $60,000 contribution is likely to be boosted by Whangarei-based Northland Health, which acknowledges that the project will improve emergency medical and health services.

The Far North community will need to find nearly $100,000 but community leaders are confident this will not be a problem.

"There are sources we can tap into. We'll get the lights in," Northern Community Board chairman Millie Srhoj said.

A Far North community forest fund held nearly $500,000 in tree harvesting proceeds. "We might get some of that," he said.

Kaitaia-based district councillor Dennis Bowman, who has led northern efforts to gain council financial support for the project, said the proposal was "all go."

He expected the local community board would have little difficulty organising the extra money needed once the airport lease was transferred to the proposed trust.

Northland Health chief executive Ken Whelan said the trust needed only to formally outline the night lighting project before he recommended that his board support the initiative.

"We would look at about $25,000 towards it."

A "total package" was required to bring the airport up to night operational standard. Airport spokesman Russell Wagener said this included taxiway lighting, windsock lights, pilot-operated landing lights and glide scope indicators, costing a total of about $180,000.

He said the project would be put out to tender and although no completion date had been set, he understood installation of the lighting would take no more than a month.

Mr Srhoj said formation of the community trust had to be given priority as Far North Holdings' involvement ended on June 30.

He hoped the community board could play a pivotal role with other community groups.

Mr Srhoj and Mr Wagener are also leading a fight to retain a local, ground-based VHF communication system used by aircraft flying into Kaitaia.

The Airways Corporation wants to relocate the system to Bay of Islands Airport at Kerikeri, where there is more air traffic.

Far North groups and corporation representatives will meet in Kaitaia on Tuesday to discuss the issue.