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Post by tbf25o4 on Aug 10, 2020 9:39:23 GMT 12
In today's Dominion Post there is an article claiming that the current owners of Kapiti Coast airport are considering
closing the airport permanently sometime in the next five weeks.
The new National Party candidate for the Otaki area Tim Costley (Ex-RNZAF) released information he had been passed on the
possible closure. The owners are citing economic downturn Covid19 problems, and the removal of the Airways Flight Information Service
as some of the reasons.
Probably the "commercial" reality is that the ground is more valuable for housing and commercial use than as an airport.
However, the airport should be considered as a national strategic asset in times of possible closure of access to Wellington it would become a major hub for relief
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 10, 2020 14:24:44 GMT 12
The owners have been threatening to close that airfield for ages. This is nothing new.
"However, the airport should be considered as a national strategic asset in times of possible closure of access to Wellington it would become a major hub for relief"
With that incompetent buffoon Twyford as Minister of Transport, and his deputies being the slimy Shane Jones and the loonie toon Julie Anne Genter, there's no hope of the government giving any such consideration.
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Aug 10, 2020 18:55:03 GMT 12
That's going to be a terrible blow for GA in the Wellington region. I wonder what would become of the Kapiti Aero Club, last time I visited there a few years ago they had just moved to a very nice new building on the opposite side of the airport from their previous location, and they seemed to be doing well with a lot of ex Wellington Aero Club people signing up.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 10, 2020 19:06:48 GMT 12
Yes it really will be a shame if it happens. Would some sort of petition or campaign help? I guess not since it's not a publicly owned site.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 19, 2020 23:47:08 GMT 12
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Aug 20, 2020 19:00:54 GMT 12
Thanks Dave, signed.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 20, 2020 20:01:09 GMT 12
I hope lots of people sign it. As I wrote on Facebook about this:
I don't doubt that the writing is well and truly on the wall for the airport, and probably has been ever since it was sold in 2007 to property developer Sir Noel Robinson's company. Even then it was in doubt and since then they have sold off airport land for housing to encroach right up to the limits, and closed part of one runway. Since then Air New Zealand has pulled out as it was not profitable for them to continue to use the airport, the gliding club is gone, and it sold again in 2019 to developer the Templeton Group which represents NZPropCo. None of the directors of NZPropCo listed live anywhere near Paraparaumu - they are all Auckland and Christchurch based, so whatever happens they will not care and they surely see the airport as just another property investment that will give them a $2 Billion turnaround when they have cut it all up and sell it off for dogbox housing.
There will likely be nothing that dissuades them from their plans other than intervention by government. And that won't happen with that incompetent buffoon Phil Twyford as Minister of Transport, and his deputies being the slimy Shane Jones and the loonie toon Julie Anne Genter, there's no hope of the government giving any such consideration.
Sadly this is looking for all intents and purposes like the loss of yet another of our airports, and as we know as soon as it is gone we'll never get it back. No-one these days is building new airports or aerodromes, least of all for GA and recreational usage. Cost and ridiculous government regulating would put anyone off doing so, and building all that infrastructure from scratch would be far too much of an investment for anyone. So we have to do whatever we can to stop losing these important places. If signing the petition does nothing else, it at least shows you cared and were aware of the impact this will have on our aviation community.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Aug 20, 2020 20:06:26 GMT 12
Also signed. Kapiti has such a long history as an important airfield to the greater Wellington region. It saddens me to see how the cycle of short-sightedness, in the rosy glow of the promised dollar, continues to dim the vision and principles of men - to the detriment of future generations. Hark, I hear again in my short tenure, a bugle sounds...
Wigram
Hobsonville
Pikes Point
Stoney Ridge
Te Anau
Lest we forget
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Post by eieio on Aug 20, 2020 20:52:40 GMT 12
Well put Dave
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Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 20, 2020 23:59:37 GMT 12
I wonder what the Council zoning is for that land?
I recollect that a bit of land very adjacent to Ardmore was up for sale some years ago a prospective buyer was put off when they found that bit was actually zoned for airfield activity and nothing else permitted.
"Wigram
Hobsonville
Pikes Point
Stoney Ridge
Te Anau"
and Matarangi.
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Post by Bruce on Aug 21, 2020 8:45:31 GMT 12
Just a reminder that "chipping in" on a change.org petition DOES NOT support the actual cause - it goes into the App's coffers for "promotion" and not a "fighting fund" for the cause. Lots of people found that out with the Soundsair petition!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2022 18:17:42 GMT 12
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Post by FlyingKiwi on Jun 15, 2022 20:29:22 GMT 12
It seems it's much the same result either way - the current owners want to turn it into a housing development, this appears to be taking that away from them, but I imagine the new owners will do whatever is most profitable, which probably isn't running an airport unfortunately.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2022 22:08:08 GMT 12
Yep, my view exactly.
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