Wanaka to get new airport

Press, 20 February 1987, Page 1

Wanaka to get new airport

By

SARAH LYNCH

in Queenstown

The tourist industry in Wanaka is expected to “take off” this winter after yesterday’s announcement of a new airport for the town. Approval has been given by the Queens-town-Lakes District Council for lengthening the existing airport’s runway to 12Hm and the addition of a terminal building, at a cost of The existing 18m runway is used only by small, aircraft, but the new airport will allow the larger, commercial Hawker Siddley 748 and Dash 8 aircraft to land.

The Deputy Mayor of Wanaka, Mr Bill King, said last evening that while the new airport would not mean the sudden transformation of Wanaka into “another Queentown” it would bring the town its fair share of tourists.

“It is definitely the catalyst for expansion in Wanaka,” he said. “After all, flying is the modern medium of transport for tourists.”

The airport extensions are expected to be approved by the Ministry of Transport within the next fortnight, with construction to start immediately. Mr King said the new airport would be completed by June, in time for the first planeloads of skiers to arrive at Wanaka.

The $786,000 cost will be met without Government help. Approaches had been made for funding assistance, but the Government turned them down.

Almost a third of the cost is being put up by local businesses in the form of interest-free advances for 18 years. Mr King said this was a display of private-sec-tor confidence in the future of Wanaka as a tourist resort

He also hoped it would prompt the Government to “come to the party” with funding, in spite of its earlier refusal.

“If people are prepared to help themselves, the Government should be prepared to help out too,” he said. The remaining $580,800 needed to improve the airport is being split between the QueenstownLakes District Council and leading airlines, including Air New Zealand, which is putting up <125,000.