Airport changes for Newmans

Press, 9 November 1984, Page 7

Airport changes for Newmans

Work will begin on Monday to extend the Christchurch Airport terminal near the domestic passenger lounge to make room for, T.N.L. Group’s Newmans Air.

The work, estimated to cost $215,000, will be contracted to Fletcher Development and Construction, Ltd. The Christchurch City Council’s airport and electricity committee approved the work at its meeting yesterday. New office space will be built for Newmans outside the existing terminal by extending the northern wall of the domestic lounge. This will involve sealing off the northern entrance of the underpass underneath the lounge.

The chairman of the committee, Cr Morgan Fahey, said that Newmans’ facilities would include check-in counters, four offices, a baggage conveyer, and a bag-gage-sorting area. Mount Cook Airlines’ facilities would be relocated Pc -the larger area copied

by the Airport Bookshop, beside Newmans’ offices. The Airport Bookshop would be shifted to the area now used by the flower barrow. Cr Fahey said that the office space occupied by rental car companies would be shifted from the present unsatisfactory position in the centre of the concourse. The post office might also be relocated in future.

The council’s deputy general manager (works), Mr Harold Surtees, said that only two of four contractors approached were able to consider completing the alterations by the target date of January 25. Because of the tight time schedule and unforeseen problems which might arise, the council might need to be slightly flexible on the completion date of the extensions.

Funds for the work will come from the airport current account.

Laing Contractors, Ltd, will build the road and taxiway required for access to the Newmans air

This work is expected to cost $194,000, and has a target completion date of February 1. Laing Contractors is now doing preparatory work for the hangar. Access road

The response of the Paparua County Council to a proposal to extend the McLeans Island Road was criticised by the committee; The City Council expressed strong support in August for planned extensions to the road. The County Council said that the extension was a regional responsibility because of its recreational and tourist potential. Cr J. F. Burns said that Paparua’s response was “disappointing.” It said it would not fund something with regional impact unless other councils contributed.

“If they had simply replied that they would not do it because they did not have funds, that would be understandable. But to say ‘We are not going to do it unless

other councils contribute’ is regrettable,” Cr Brown said. Spitfire fund

The committee recommended that no City Council contribution be made to the Spitfire Memorial fund, although it has installed a collection box for the fund at the airport. The committee received a letter from the Brevet Club asking for funds to replace the firedamaged memorial Spitfire. Cr Fahey said that regulations on the use of airport funds did not allow donations of money, materials,or services to any cause, however charitable. Project team The committee may set up a project team, comprising representatives of the City Council and the Ministry of Transport, to coordinate development at the airport. A study will be made of the present division of responsibilities between the council and the Ministry, in

preparation for a possible team, the formation of which will be considered at a later meeting. The Town Clerk of Christchurch, Mr John Gray, said he wanted a more orderly approach to relations between the council and the airport. “The question of what is policy and what is implementation is very blurred in respect of airport activities,” he said. The handling of Newmans Air showed the need for a more methodical approach. Special meetings between the council and the Ministry would not have been needed if officers of both parties had been organised, Mr Gray said.

Cr Burn said that there was a danger of the committee losing its policy making input if a projectteam was set up. Cr M. J. Glubb said the matter should be considered next year, after the new airport director, Mr Hugh McCarroll, was familiar with his job. f