Submission on Proposed Plan Change 22
Citizens Against Privatisation oppose any commercial airport at Whenuapai.
It is ludicrous to propose a second commercial airport for such a small population relative to, say, London. Auckland
Region has approx 1.3 million compared to 7.2 million in Greater London. (#1 and #2 below). Any future provision of a
second commercial airport should be based on Ak International Airport having reached its capacity for flight movements -
not any other consideration.
Improved Public Transport is what is needed - not a profit-driven dream to exploit deplorable deficiencies.
Improvements would bring efficient cross-city traffic flow, and better services to particular destinations, including Ak
International Airport. That is what the people know so well, and successive generations of politicians talk about so
much. Road congestion makes it just as difficult for a traveller to reach west Auckland from Tuakau, as someone from
Kaukapakapa to reach Mangere. The bottle-neck is in urban Auckland, not further out.
CAP maintains that Whenuapai is not a suitable site for a second commercial airport in terms of urban planning. Whilst
Mangere is well positioned with no adjoining residential area, and sea on two borders, Whenuapai is a land-locked Air
Force base. A commercial airport would encourage adjacent "urban sprawl". Again, the public knows so well, and
successive generations of politicians so eloquently bang on, about Auckland's "development" being a problem. In large
part determined by market vagaries, CAP says.
Since Waitakere City has encouraged such expansion in past efforts to urge approval for the likes of Sunderland College
to establish a campus in a rural setting near Whenuapai, CAP considers Whenuapai and surrounding territory is in danger
of becoming a built up dormitory residential area. Should a "Greater Auckland Council" replace the ARC, as is currently
mooted, this superfluous airport will be even harder for the public to oppose.
With the above in mind, CAP argues that a second commercial airport will compromise safety of life and property in the
event of a major aviation accident. Environmental degradation will increase - pollution, noise, the loss of a semi-rural
green setting, and increased local commercial and private road traffic.
CAP suggests that a shared NZ Air Force/commercial airport could adversely affect national security and Defence
operations on the one hand, and introduce an additional dimension of risk for civilian aircraft on the other.
CAP argues this planned commercial airport is an undemocratic and questionable proposition. We are not aware of any
wide publicity, public consultation or mandate before North Shore, Rodney and Waitakere municipalities selected Infratil
as its "partner". #3 Nor, before the three local bodies formed a company to develop civil operations at Whenuapai". #4
This consortium plans a profitable niche enterprise - not a public service in the traditional sense.
Since this airport would lack intrinsic necessity and have negative social impacts, there is a strong risk of financial
failure in the competitive marketplace should their rivals, Ak International Airport, get the better of them. This
element is magnified because Whenuapai is planned to be a secondary airport, pitched at smaller flight operators. Not
only will that client base be vulnerable to raiding offers, those smaller flight operators can be taken over by larger
companies (remember Ansett NZ). Either scenario could result in Whenuapai Airport becoming a wingless, white elephant.
Further, there are strong indicators of some of the parties being unreliable or unethical.
Shortly after a prominent local body politician unveiled and persistently promoted/marketed this grandiose scheme
several years ago, Infratil became involved in planning behind the scenes.
Now they are on-board with a 70% stake (and monopoly decision making) in the North West Airport Ltd "joint venture". #4
This is tantamount to a privatised enterprise before it even starts. Aside of dealings in many other erstwhile
publicly-owned services, Infratil owns Wellington Airport and acquired Stagecoachabout two years ago.
Last month Wellington Regional Council warned Stagecoach/Infratil that its route disruptions and poor service would no
longer be tolerated. #5
Last month Stagecoach/Infratil threatened to withdraw its Auckland services in response to any regulated
timetable/ticketing integration. #6
Last month, Fullers Ferries - another Infratil-owned company - drew heavy flac for leaving 120 passengers stranded
overnight at Waiheke. #6
North Shore City Council was accused last year of "virtually holding Waitakere to ransom" over the privatisation of
Techscape Ltd to German corporation Bilfinger Berger. #7
SUMMARY Auckland International Airport efficiently caters for domestic and overseas air traffic and has nowhere near
reached its capacity. There is no need for a second commercial airport and for the above reasons Citizens Against
Privatisation do/would oppose any future second commercial airport to be located at Whenuapai.
Therefore, we strongly oppose Proposed Plan Change 22.
Ends