Post by stu on Feb 6, 2009 20:30:06 GMT 12
www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/4837863a22400.html
Airport plan 'postponed'
By HAYDEN DONNELL - North Shore Times | Thursday, 05 February 2009
The spectre of a commercial airport at Whenuapai still hangs over the North Shore.
Airport opponents were celebrating when Waitakere City Council called off attempts to rezone the airbase for civilian use last week.
North Shore mayor Andrew Williams said the "Whenuapai commercial airport nightmare is nearly over".
But Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey says there’s no way he and his council are giving up on a commercial airport.
"For those people who think we have abandoned the Whenuapai project, nothing could be further from the truth.
"We’re adamant we’re postponing it and not cancelling it."
After a meeting between Mr Harvey and Defence Minister Wayne Mapp Waitakere called off a plan change hearing scheduled for next week. The plan change would have rezoned the airbase for use as a commercial airport.
Mr Mapp says he reiterated the government’s stance to keep the airbase in sole defence use to Mr Harvey.
He guarantees there will be no commercial airport at Whenuapai while National is in power.
"The government is absolutely clear on this. Our policy is that the airport won’t happen."
However, he would not say whether the government will be moving to entrench the airbase in defence use permanently.
He will be speaking to Mr Harvey about other commercial ventures that could be developed at the base.
Mr Harvey says he has not been discouraged by the government’s stance and is "delighted" the air force is staying.
It leaves the possibility of establishing joint civilian and air force use of the base, he says.
"As long as the base stays there could be a second arm. Full credit to the government for securing its future."
Waitakere’s plans for a commercial airport at Whenuapai have angered many North Shore residents.
They say noise and pollution from planes taking off and landing at the airport could effect their quality of life.
North Shore mayor Andrew Williams remains confident all possibility of a civilian airport at Whenuapai will be written off.
"I am very confident that we will see a comprehensive and categorical decision by the Cabinet that Whenuapai will remain as an ongoing military airbase for many decades and generations to come, eliminating once and for all any suggestion of this becoming a commercial airport."
A defence paper spelling out the cost of upgrading the airbase will be presented to the Cabinet next month.
______________________________________________
The spectre of a commercial airport at Whenuapai still hangs over the North Shore. .... what media bias ?
Airport plan 'postponed'
By HAYDEN DONNELL - North Shore Times | Thursday, 05 February 2009
The spectre of a commercial airport at Whenuapai still hangs over the North Shore.
Airport opponents were celebrating when Waitakere City Council called off attempts to rezone the airbase for civilian use last week.
North Shore mayor Andrew Williams said the "Whenuapai commercial airport nightmare is nearly over".
But Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey says there’s no way he and his council are giving up on a commercial airport.
"For those people who think we have abandoned the Whenuapai project, nothing could be further from the truth.
"We’re adamant we’re postponing it and not cancelling it."
After a meeting between Mr Harvey and Defence Minister Wayne Mapp Waitakere called off a plan change hearing scheduled for next week. The plan change would have rezoned the airbase for use as a commercial airport.
Mr Mapp says he reiterated the government’s stance to keep the airbase in sole defence use to Mr Harvey.
He guarantees there will be no commercial airport at Whenuapai while National is in power.
"The government is absolutely clear on this. Our policy is that the airport won’t happen."
However, he would not say whether the government will be moving to entrench the airbase in defence use permanently.
He will be speaking to Mr Harvey about other commercial ventures that could be developed at the base.
Mr Harvey says he has not been discouraged by the government’s stance and is "delighted" the air force is staying.
It leaves the possibility of establishing joint civilian and air force use of the base, he says.
"As long as the base stays there could be a second arm. Full credit to the government for securing its future."
Waitakere’s plans for a commercial airport at Whenuapai have angered many North Shore residents.
They say noise and pollution from planes taking off and landing at the airport could effect their quality of life.
North Shore mayor Andrew Williams remains confident all possibility of a civilian airport at Whenuapai will be written off.
"I am very confident that we will see a comprehensive and categorical decision by the Cabinet that Whenuapai will remain as an ongoing military airbase for many decades and generations to come, eliminating once and for all any suggestion of this becoming a commercial airport."
A defence paper spelling out the cost of upgrading the airbase will be presented to the Cabinet next month.
______________________________________________
The spectre of a commercial airport at Whenuapai still hangs over the North Shore. .... what media bias ?