Consultation begins on Airport Location study

The Team from Whangarei District Council

We are seeking public opinion about the future of air transport in the Whangārei District.

We need to plan ahead and be ready for change in the air transport sector. Aircraft types and sizes may change in future, or Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rules may change. Either of these could require the airport to shift from Onerahi, potentially some time in the 2030's.

The existing airport at Onerahi has a relatively short runway with smaller than usual safety areas at each end. We have looked at extending the safety margins, but problems with this option mean we must also consider new potential sites elsewhere in our District. We have permission from the CAA to continue using the existing Onerahi airport for the time being, giving us time to examine potential new sites.

We have identified three potential new sites: Ruatangata West, Ruatangata and One Tree Point West. From initial investigations these potential sites all appear to meet the required criteria including enough clear flat land for a runway, clear airspace at either end (ie no mountains or hills), land for the operational area a new airport would require, and relatively close links to state highways.

Now it's time to include the community in this study. Please take the time to examine each of the options, and share your perspective through the 'Have your say' options.

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