Whenuapai Airport
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the basic proposal for civil use of Whenuapai?
Waitakere City Council and its partners wish to have Defence/Crown recognise that developing commercial use of the Airport is the only option that is compatible with the law (as set out in Public Works and Airport Authorities Acts) and optimises across New Zealand Defence Forces' criteria as set out in its discussion paper. This would pave the way for the development of the Airport by Waitakere's commercial partner, NorthWest.
What are the consequences of the Public Works and Airport Authorities Acts?
The Crown disposal process must be undertaken in accord with one of these two acts. The AAA allows the Airport to be placed into a company and for the Crown to sell the shares of that company. The PWA sets out a required disposal sequence that must be followed. The first step in this sequence is for Government and the local council (ie. Waitakere City Council) to determine if the military airport should be re-used as a public work. Waitakere City Council has indicated that it intends to exercise its rights under the PWA (if this disposal route is followed) to require reuse of the military airport as a civil airport. In effect the law means that there are only two potential uses of the Airport. Some, or all of the Airport, may be re-used by Government for some other public work. Alternatively the Airport, or part of it, may be reused as a civil airport.
Why is it favoured by the Councils?
In addition to providing local people with better access to an airport, more visitors would arrive stimulating tourism, and businesses would locate around the airport. A commercial airport and associated development would be a major stimulant to the economy of Auckland's north and west. Urban planning in Auckland is focused on reducing sprawl, increasing the density of land use, and making sure people can live-work-play within close physical proximity. Auckland can spend billions on new roads, but with 39 cars being added to its roads every day, road construction will not keep up. It is critical to increase use of public transport and to reduce the demand for travel. Commercial airport operations at Whenuapai is completely consistent with these land use goals.
Are there no better long-term uses for the site?
Whenuapai's only unique feature is that it has an Airport. Near Whenuapai there is no shortage of land for alternative uses. In any case, there is no doubt that retention of the Airport and the introduction of commercial airline services will be of greater benefit than any plausible alternative use.
What is the impact on road usage and congestion?
Whenuapai is the closest airport to over 500,000 people in Auckland. By 2020 this figure is projected to be 1,000,000 people. It is calculated, using the Auckland land transport model, that the value of reduced road congestion resulting from successful civil use of Whenuapai has a value of $341 million. This calculation assumes that time wasted in traffic is valued at about $15 an hour.
Is this the best site for Auckland's second commercial airport?
Whenuapai is ideally placed relative to population growth, land transport networks and areas of urban development. Practically if Whenuapai is not retained, there is no prospect of the Auckland region getting a replacement second airport of similar scale.What are the opponents' saying?
There are two main opponents; Auckland International Airport (AIA), which wants to preserve its monopoly, and local residents who anticipate a "windfall" benefit from the Airport's closure.
AIA argues that it is the only airport Auckland needs. It also has a shopping centre, yet any suggestion that these should be Auckland's only shopping centre would be laughed at. AIA's arguments in favour of it being entitled to be a monopoly airport are no more rational than an argument that it should be allowed to own Auckland's only shopping centre. Even AIA has conceded that commercial airline use of Whenuapai will have no impact at all on AIA's viability or quality of services. Most people would expect competition to result in benefits.
Some people in areas near Whenuapai want the Airport closed because they feel they would gain a windfall benefit. Certainly some people will get quieter back gardens, but any careful assessment of the "noise pollution" indicates that for most people the problem is more perceived than real. At Greenhithe, for instance, a taking-off aircraft will be about 1,000 feet up, the same height as an aircraft as it passes Roseneath after leaving Wellington Airport. No one would suggest closing Wellington Airport because of aircraft noise at Roseneath. Approximately 40,000 aircraft per annum take off past Roseneath. By 2020 it is forecast that about 1,850 aircraft per annum will be taking-off past Greenhithe. Noise issues will, naturally, be dealt with under RMA consenting processes.
Public and business opinion?
Three polls have been done. Two by Infratil, one by North Shore City. Each has indicated only minority opposition to commercial airlines using Whenuapai Airport.Business is almost universally in favour of the Airport allowing commercial use.
What about the environment and resource management consents?
At present the Airport has consents to allow military use. Any civil use must also be consented and the process to gain these is defined by the RMA. Clearly those who want the Airport closed will ensure that no corners are cut. For opponents to show that the Airport should be closed they must show material reduced amenity value due to the Airport activities.
Would NorthWest being granted joint-use of Whenuapai have any impact on the value of the Crown’s investment in the property, its risks or liabilities?
The Crown wants to maximise benefit across several criteria. Selling the Airport for $1 million and ending up with a $1 billion problem elsewhere would not be a good deal even if the $1 million was a good price.
As a commercial Airport, Whenuapai's value is problematic because commercial operations do not yet exist and will require substantial investment if they are to come about. With joint use the costs of operating the Airport would be shared by the Military so Government’s expense would be reduced. The terms of the agreement between Defence/Government and NorthWest would be open to public scrutiny and would have to show maximisation of the Crown’s value from the arrangement relative to alternatives.
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