Corporatisation
After considerable time and effort, finally it has happened, Hawke's Bay Airport Ltd came into being on 1 July 2009! At the same time the old cost sharing joint venture, which had worked so well for over 40 years, was dissolved. As far as the traveling public, airline operators, tenants and other users of the airport are concerned there is no change, its business as usual.
Airport Runway Extension to Proceed
Following a decision by the Hawke's Bay Airport Ltd board,
a contract has been let to Higgins Contracting Limited to proceed with the
extension of the runway to 1,750 metres from its current length of 1,310
metres.
HBAL Chairman John Palairet said that the board was
pleased to have appointed a contractor with strong airport runway experience
and with a significant regional presence.
The overall cost of the development inclusive of the
construction contract, design and consulting fees, related contracts and
contingencies is expected to be around $5.5million, within the board’s original
provision of $6 million.
This will make the airport jet capable for domestic
jets currently operating in New Zealand and Australia. It provides an opportunity in time for
airlines to commence scheduled jet services from Hawke’s Bay Airport.
Mr Palairet said that while Air New Zealand offers a
very good service currently the region needs to have the benefit of competition
and the extension does create a platform for a more competitive environment.
However extending the runway on its own does not mean
that alternative airlines will commence services to Hawke’s Bay in the near
future. The region and in particular the
stakeholders in the tourism industry need to continue to work hard in a
cohesive way to promote Hawke’s Bay as a preferred destination.
The Board appreciates the support and interest in the
project shown by all three shareholders, the Napier City Council, Hastings
District Council and the Crown and in particular the efforts over a number of
years by Mayors Lawrence Yule and Barbara Arnott and Hawkes Bay MP’s Craig Foss
and Chris Tremain.
The Board of Hawke’s Bay Airport has entered into a
long term perpetual lease with Landcorp Holdings Limited to obtain access to
additional land to facilitate the extension and also to future proof the
airport for any further extension in the future.
The development has the
full support of Manu Ahuriri Incorporated, the entity that has been mandated by
the Minister and accepted on behalf of the WAI55 Claimants (and others) to
negotiate a settlement with the Crown in terms of their successful Waitangi
Tribunal Claims.
Preliminary earthworks have commenced, the scheduled
date for completion is May/June 2011.
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