Forget the Points Scoring, Get Airport Project Under Way

CONFIRMATION that New Plymouth Airport is poised to undergo a multi-million redevelopment, will, hopefully, put an end to an unseemly and protracted spat between its two owners, the New Plymouth District Council and the Crown. The conspiracy theorists among us might argue that the council has been using controversy over the airport’s development as a means to gain 100% ownership of the facility. Mayor Peter Tennent has frequently waved a token $1 coin in front of New Plymouth MP and Associate Transport Minister Harry Duynhoven and offered to buy the Crown’s 50% share, citing the joint ownership issue as a major reason why redevelopment hasn’t taken place, even though he would have known that the Crown shareholding was not for sale.

But while Mr Tennent has been doing his coin-waving act, his council staff has not matched the mayor’s enthusiasm and produced the required airport redevelopment plan for the Crown to consider. Mr Duynhoven has consistently said that the Government could not commit funds towards any airport project unless there was a project to consider — and the council has not been delivering sensational service on this project.

It is election time and MPs everywhere are eager to get into the headlines, but Mr Duynhoven’s annoyance over his Government’s copping the blame for stalled progress at the airport is understandable. Thankfully, it looks like the sparring is to come to an end. The council has confirmed it is finally about to sign-off a redevelopment plan — subject to the inevitable round of council meetings — and Mr Duynhoven pledges that the Crown’s $1 million half-share of the cost is sitting in a bank account in Wellington ready to be accessed.

To the roughly 5000 passengers who pass through New Plymouth Airport’s terminal each week, that is good news — because one important point that should not be lost is that the airport is a dated and increasingly shabby facility that no longer adequately represents the province’s modern and welcoming face to commerce and tourism.

The terminal’s public address system is a temporary setup because the proper one has been broken down for months. The outside public viewing area is closed because part of a security fence is broken. And there is a temporary cafe operating following the very public fiasco over the lease for that facility. Outside, the drop-off, pick- up area needs improving, and vehicle security is now a major issue – - highlighted a few weeks ago when vandals with crowbars broke into about 40 cars in one night. Nor is it good enough for travellers, and those who deliver and pick them up, to have to lean into the rain all the way to the carpark. In 2005, travellers deserve much better than all of that. It is to be hoped that the council and the Crown finally do put their political agendas to one side and pull out all the stops to avoid further delays in this urgently needed airport project — tentatively scheduled for completion early next year.