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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 9, 2007 0:21:29 GMT 12
Posted at 4:14pm on 08 Mar 2007 www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200703081613/battle_heats_up_over_whenuapai_airport_plansA battle is heating up over plans to turn Whenuapai Airbase into a commercial airport. Waitakere City Council is backing the move, as the Defence Force gradually shifts operations from the former RNZAF base to Ohakea. The council has received more than 2,000 submissions on a proposed change to the District Plan, which is needed to develop the idea further. A group opposing the move, the Whenuapai Airport Action Group, says that would almost certainly pave the way for commercial flights. The city council says the change would simply ensure the land is protected from being subdivided and a commercial airport needs government approval and consents. The action group says it will appeal to the Environment Court if the council approves the change to the District Plan. If a commercial airport is established at Whenuapai, the North Shore suburb of Greenhithe would be under the flight path, sparking concerns about noise, pollution and safety. Process flawed - Auckland airport Auckland International Airport Ltd also opposes the change. Chief executive Don Huse says claims a second commercial airport is viable and could reduce traffic congestion are overstated, because most flights will still have to go through the main airport in Mangere. He says the process is flawed, because the council is looking at only one possible use for the site. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 9, 2007 0:31:26 GMT 12
My thoughts on the above article - isn't Greenhythe already under the flightpath and has been for 67 years? What difference will it make to them? As Bruce mentioned to me the other day they'll be better off as lobby groups could control a curfew on night flights for a civil airport but they cannot now with military operations all through the night.
How is it going to be any more unsafe? Or more pollution - p-lease, modern engines on airliners are much cleaner burning than those on the Hercs and Orions. Plus a lot quieter.
I'll bet that the spotty twits who make up the Whenuapai Airport Action Group are a tiny percentage of the poulation who're affected by the airfield - most probably don't live there but have business interests to protect, like that Don Huse of Auckland International who makes no sense. Why would most flights still have to go through Mangere? If there's an alternate airport set up for alternate users and alternate carriers, Mangere doesn't necessarily have to lose out. If he had any brains he'd invest some of the airport's millions into Whenuapai rather than waste it on Mangere's second runway.
I wonder if there was a single person at Whenuapai last Saturday who wouldn't realise that the base is an important asset and does Auckland proud, and should be retained even if as an airport with limited military use. I'd bet there isn't.
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Post by phil82 on Mar 9, 2007 10:51:39 GMT 12
I shouldn't worry about the planned move to Ohakea Dave; my information is that what is happening at the moment is a planning exercise which might never, that is never, be funded by the Government. They are just going through the motions. The more they plan and do nothing, the more remote, and expensive, it becomes. There is a huge amount of work to be done at Ohakea before the move could take place.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 9, 2007 11:06:32 GMT 12
That sounds like a great idea and it seems like they may be taking a leaf out of the Army's book after they were told to close Papakura and move to Hobsonville.
However, I've heard that several new buildings have already gone up at Ohakea. Can anyone confirm this?
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Post by skyhawkdon on Mar 9, 2007 11:42:01 GMT 12
That sounds like a great idea and it seems like they may be taking a leaf out of the Army's book after they were told to close Papakura and move to Hobsonville. However, I've heard that several new buildings have already gone up at Ohakea. Can anyone confirm this? No new ones have been built to my knowledge. The last new building at Ohakea would be the Gym! There are a few portacomms at Airmovements which have become more perminant looking recently! All the Avionics support infrastructure to support the upgraded P-3, C-130 and 757 platforms is being installed at Whenuapai... you would think if they were serious about moving to Ohakea it would go there wouldn't you? To me that gives a hint at where the Air Force really thinks it's main fixed wing operational base will be for the foreseeable future.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 9, 2007 12:12:10 GMT 12
That is fantastic news, thanks Don and Colin, you've made my day.
And the fact that in the meantime the copuncil is going to ensure that it can't be subdivided for housing is even better.
And we also know they'll never subdivide Ohakea for housing because no-one in their right mind would want to live there! Maybe a prison could be built there, that's about it.
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Post by phil82 on Mar 9, 2007 15:04:20 GMT 12
Aiir Force News detailed the new works to be completed at Ohakea, and it's in the mega-bucks stratosphere, which means it can't come out of the Defence Budget and will have to approved by Treasury, and you all know what I think about Treasury.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 9, 2007 15:52:42 GMT 12
Ah, Treasury approval for RNZAF needs, that'll be at least in the 20-Year pending basket then
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Post by 30sqnatc on Mar 10, 2007 17:30:52 GMT 12
And we also know they'll never subdivide Ohakea for housing because no-one in their right mind would want to live there! Maybe a prison could be built there, that's about it. Look at that from a different perspective - you could build a BIG prision at Whenuapai ;D Now that would give the anti-airport group something to really complain about  |
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Post by phil on Mar 10, 2007 19:15:48 GMT 12
However, I've heard that several new buildings have already gone up at Ohakea. Can anyone confirm this? I'd have to back up what Don said, the last new building would be the gym, that was built in '99. There have been new portacoms tacked on to 3sqn hangar as well recently. |
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Post by dpdouglas on Mar 14, 2007 21:25:43 GMT 12
Ok I just have to say one thing about the proposed commercial airport at whenuapai and that is fuey oh and also housing price drop and as well as that pre- acceptance selling house boom if they are smart and keep up with what is going on. because if they turn whenuapai into commercial it will not only cost more to build some of the add-ons for facilitys such as ticket booking and all that it will if they are making it completely commercial and not one bit military then the hercs and orions have a biger distance to travel to get to places such as fiji, samoa and tonga during emergency and other relief efforts besides why ruin a good thing by creating more fuss and congestion for the residents of westgate, massey, greenhithe and surrounding suburbs in the flight path and area. Another point raised is what about the jobs of those working at whenuapai, you would have no need for a base commander, or such jobs like base orderly and also i know this is sorta selfish in a way but who cares at the moment theres an ATC squadron in the back corner who conduct parades and camps on base every thursday and some weekends what will happen to that?
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