AUCKLAND AIRPORT Project Will Cost $11.5m

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32034, 8 July 1969, Page 26

AUCKLAND AIRPORT Project Will Cost $11.5m

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 7. The Cabinet has approved in principle the construction of permanent terminal buildings and associated civil engineering works at Auckland International Airport, the Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon) said today.

The cost is assessed at of which 20 per cent will be met by the local authorities. The preparation of working drawings for stage one of the project, covering the international terminal building, aircraft parks, reading, car parks and associated facilities had been approved, Mr Gordon said. Construction would begin as soon as possible. “The international terminal, which is expected to take about three years to build, is estimated to cost about $6.6m,” he said. “The assessed cost of $11.5m for the project is about $7.5m less than the estimated cost of the first scheme, submitted in mid--1967.”

Mr Gordon said that with the expected increase in international air traffic the terminal should return a profit on capital in two or three years. “The development of stage one will allow all international airlines now accommodated in the temporary terminal to move into the new international terminal on its completion in 1972, or 1973,” he said. “The plans for this include

air bridges to service jumbo jets and to allow passengers to walk right into the cabins of aircraft under cover all the way.” The National Airways Corporation would continue to use the existing temporary terminal for some time.

“Eventually this building will be needed to cope with the growing demand for freight space,” he said. “The temporary terminal was after all, designed and built as a permanent cargo shed.” By the time the building was needed, stage two —the permanent domestic terminal —should be ready, he said.