Regional airport study gets approval for second stage

Thursday 9 December, 2004

Environment Bay of Plenty has today decided to invite full tenders for stage two of the Bay of Plenty Regional Airport Study.

The three-part study will determine the benefits of a single regional airport for the Bay of Plenty. This second stage will look at the feasibility of such a proposal at a high level. The first stage researched the Bay of Plenty’s current air transport infrastructure of the three local airports in Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatane.

In October, Environment Bay of Plenty invited expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced consultants to carry out stage two. The regional council assessed these in consultation with the Bay of Plenty’s city and district councils.

Based on comments received, the regional council has broadened its terms of reference to include more work on the financial feasibility, possible locations and stakeholder impacts of a single regional airport.

Environment Bay of Plenty will now invite tenders for the work from three specialist consultants. The invitation to submit tenders will go out before Christmas and close in late February 2005.

Regional development committee chairman Athole Herbert said that the expressions of interest phase had been valuable to the council. “It helped us refine our thinking on what should be included in the terms of reference and I look forward to receiving high quality tenders from the consultants who have been selected.”

Environment Bay of Plenty expects to have the results of the second stage of the Regional Airport study available by late 2005.

ENDS

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