Manapouri Airport Upgrade Going Well

By MORGAN, Jared

CONSOLIDATION work cementing Manapouri as the main air-gateway into Fiordland is on track.

In March last year the Southland District Council approved the $6.9 million redevelopment of the site to become Te Anau Airport- Manapouri.

When the Manapouri Airport redevelopment is completed, Waiau Airport, in Te Anau, will be closed and all air traffic in the area will be through Manapouri.

Te Anau Airport manager Don Reid said the terminal roof was about to go on and the entrance road and carparks were now sealed.

“The civil works contractor, Fulton Hogan Ltd, is looking at asphalting the main runway starting from October 23, weather permitting,” he said.

Everything on the multi million-dollar development was going to plan and the new development would put the area in good stead to take advantage of strong tourism growth, Mr Reid said.

The main runway would be operational from the second week in November, he said. An additional cross wind runway should be operational by about February.

“This runway has been designed to allow light aircraft to land safely in any conditions.” As a grass runway it would take some time to have it fully established, Mr Reid said.

“We’re still looking for everything to be up and running around Christmas time,” he said.

The old part of the runway at the airport was still in use and would continue to be so until the new runway is fully operational, Mr Reid said.

The Te Anau Community Board had approved the conditions to offer hangar sites for lease to interested parties. Those interested in applying for a hangar site should contact Mr Reid at the Southland District Council Te Anau office.

jared.morgan@stl.co.nz

(c) 2007 Southland Times, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.