Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 11, 2007 11:56:12 GMT 12
www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/southlandtimes/4259434a6570.html
Alexandra's airport is about to get an extra $31,000 injection to complete its upgrade.
The Central Otago District Council this week approved an overspend of $31,000 to upgrade the terminal building and airport security.
The upgrade work was initially costed at $23,000 but lifting old vinyl revealed moisture on top of the concrete slab, which increased the cost.
Some of the funds will also pay for more signage.
The airport was constructed about 1962 and used by Mount Cook Airlines for a service to Queenstown and Dunedin.
However, since the airline withdrew the service the airport has hardly been used during the past 20 years, and no maintenance has been done.
Mainland Air gave the airport a new lease of life, using it four days a week to bring specialists from Dunedin to Dunstan Hospital, and intends to incorporate that with a regular weekday service, which started on Monday.
Councillors approved the $31,000, to be funded by an internal loan against the district development account, repayable over 10 years at 7 percent, an annual principal plus interest cost of $4413.70.
Councillor Neil Gillespie asked why the amount could not just be taken from the fund but was told that further loans could be necessary to complete the upgrade, or other work plans in the pipeline also require the same type of funding.
The meeting was then moved into a closed session to discuss the airport further.
Mr Gillespie and council's assets and contracts manager Murray Washington declined to reveal what was discussed in the closed meeting, other than to say an announcment would be made at a later date.
Alexandra's airport is about to get an extra $31,000 injection to complete its upgrade.
The Central Otago District Council this week approved an overspend of $31,000 to upgrade the terminal building and airport security.
The upgrade work was initially costed at $23,000 but lifting old vinyl revealed moisture on top of the concrete slab, which increased the cost.
Some of the funds will also pay for more signage.
The airport was constructed about 1962 and used by Mount Cook Airlines for a service to Queenstown and Dunedin.
However, since the airline withdrew the service the airport has hardly been used during the past 20 years, and no maintenance has been done.
Mainland Air gave the airport a new lease of life, using it four days a week to bring specialists from Dunedin to Dunstan Hospital, and intends to incorporate that with a regular weekday service, which started on Monday.
Councillors approved the $31,000, to be funded by an internal loan against the district development account, repayable over 10 years at 7 percent, an annual principal plus interest cost of $4413.70.
Councillor Neil Gillespie asked why the amount could not just be taken from the fund but was told that further loans could be necessary to complete the upgrade, or other work plans in the pipeline also require the same type of funding.
The meeting was then moved into a closed session to discuss the airport further.
Mr Gillespie and council's assets and contracts manager Murray Washington declined to reveal what was discussed in the closed meeting, other than to say an announcment would be made at a later date.
