Milson Line Closure ‘Madness’

By MILLER, Grant

Closing Milson Line and extending Palmerston North Airport’s runway would be “madness” in the absence of an airline committed to international flights, says property developer and Vision Manawatu member Brian Green.

Air New Zealand was set to announce today the cancellation of its Freedom Air trans-Tasman flights out of Palmerston North from March next year.

That announcement must jeopardise the airport’s development plans, Mr Green said.

The airport wanted to shut nearby Milson Line, which carries 7000 vehicles a day, because the airport needs a safety zone at the end of the runway to meet new international safety regulations.

Closing the road – the quickest route between Palmerston North and Feilding – would also make an extension of the runway possible.

But Mr Green said he couldn’t see the point of an international- length runway if there were no international flights.

“It would be madness to carry on. We’ve just lost the major reason we wanted to extend it,” Mr Green said.

“If you haven’t got a long-term customer, why would you go and spend all that money? Don’t spend the money first. It’s ridiculous, unless another airline is (secured).”

But Palmerston North Airport chief executive Garry Goodman urged a long-term view.

“There is no doubt that the city will have international services at some stage,” he said.

Mr Goodman said the airport would look to fill the gap created by Freedom’s departure.

“It doesn’t change any of our strategies. The underlying market is still there,” he said.

“Things won’t always go smoothly, but we’ll get there.”

The airport must adhere to the safety regulations by 2011.

Palmerston North Mayor Heather Tanguay said it would be premature to consider scrapping the closure of Milson Line until all avenues of attracting another airline have been exhausted.

(c) 2007 Evening Standard; Palmerston North, New Zealand. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.