30 May 2006

Comment sought on Draft Whenuapai Airport District Plan Change

The public is being invited to have its say on a draft plan change to the Waitakere City District Plan, that will specifically enable Whenuapai airbase to be a commercial airport.

The draft change includes a new “Whenuapai Airport Special Area” within the District Plan.

“This does not mean that Whenuapai will become an airport, but it creates the planning structure that specifically permits an airport to be operated there, if that is what is finally agreed,” says Councillor Vanessa Neeson, chair of the Waitakere City Council’s Planning and Regulatory Committee.

“There are existing use rights and it is possible that the airport could be operated under the general rules of the Plan and the RMA, but this change specifies that an airport at Whenuapai will conform with the District Plan,” she says.

Councillor Neeson says that the Council has a clear policy position on Whenuapai which it has been pursuing for a number of years.

“We believe the region needs a second airport now and the need is primarily in the north-west sector which is made up of Waitakere, North Shore and Rodney. It will contribute to economic growth and jobs and it will contribute to reducing regional traffic congestion.

“Whenuapai airbase is a fully functioning airport in the right place and the only sensible thing is to keep our options open. It would be difficult if not impossible to replicate this resource elsewhere in the Auckland region.”

The council is seeking comment on the Draft Plan Change from the public, the Minister for the Environment, the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Conservation, the Auckland Regional Council, the North Shore City Council, and the Rodney District Council, Te Kawerau a Maki and Ngati Whatua, and local groups within the Whenuapai area.

Release ends – additional information is attached

Draft Plan Change

The Draft Plan Change includes a new policy, a new Special Area Rule, and amendments to the District Plan Maps to identify the Special Area. The Draft changes are summarised below:

Policy Section

- The addition of a new bullet point to Objective 11 that relates to Whenuapai Airport;
- The addition of a new Policy for the Whenuapai Special Airport and Explanation of that Policy following on from Objective 11; and
- Consequential changes within the Policy Section.

Rules Section
- The addition of a new Special Area Rule 29 that enables the development of airport facilities within the Special Area as a Discretionary Activity. This Rule includes the requirement for the approval by the Council of a Comprehensive Development Plan for the whole Special Area;
- Addition to the Introduction to the Rules Notification Section; and
- Consequential changes within the Rules Section.

Maps Section

- Amend the existing District Plan Maps to identify the location of the Whenuapai Airport Special Area.; and
- Amend District Plan Map Appendix IIIRNZAF Base Auckland Noise Control Area, to include a revised noise Ldn65 contour for the airport.

Comments on the Draft Plan Change will be received until 28 June 2006.

ENDS

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