ABOUT WAAG

WAAG was established in 2003 to provide local communities and any other interested or potentially affected individual, community group or business with a platform to express their concern about the proposed commercialisation of the Whenuapai Airbase as a second Auckland airport.

WHO ARE WE

We are a community organisation formed by representatives of Whenuapai, Herald Island, Greenhithe, Paremoromo Residents & Ratepayer Associations with other members across North Shore City.

 

Whenuapai Airbase is currently occupied by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) who engage in low level aviation activities. In 2004, the NZDF commissioned a voluntary submission process amongst neighbouring communities. More than 2200 submissions were voluntarily returned with an overwhelming 75% against any plan for a commercial airport.

This result was ignored by Waitakere City Council who, together with their prospective airport partner, Infratil pressed ahead with an extensive publicity campaign and lobbying of neighbouring councils; Rodney and North Shore City to join them in forming a commercial alliance with Infratil. The 2007 local body elections returned a new North Shore Council whose first action was to rescind all previous motions and pass one opposing the establishment of a commercial airport at Whenuapai. They are also taking steps to withdraw from the airport company.

In 2006, the Waitakere City Council called for submissions regarding their intended plan to promulgate Plan Change 22 which would rezone Whenuapai as commercial airport. Over 600 submissions were received of which 94% were against the Plan Change.

In December, the Waitakere Council promulgated Plan Change 22 and called for submissions under the Resource Management Act process. 2646 submissions were received and we are now awaiting the next step in that process.

WAAG believes that the development of the airbase into a commercial airport is fundamentally flawed and offers no benefit to local communities or New Zealanders' at large.

Key issues are:

  • Detrimental noise impact on vast areas of the North Shore
  • Increased pollution and aviation emissions
  • No compelling commercial benefits
  • Increased traffic flows linking Whenuapai to Mangere for connecting flights
  • No connecting domestic network
  • Low cost carriers only
  • Safety concerns over civil aviation use of airport
  • Majority of local community opposed to scheme
  • Auckland International Airport has 50 year capability for growth so no compelling need for a second airport
  • Rest of world is committed to reducing aviation emissions which have been attributed to compounding 'climate change'

To split the fact from the fiction in terms of "how this may affect you" click on to noise maps and then take a look at some of these key issues and see how the facts stack up against the hype.

Timeline of events and issues

  • 1938
    Mangere airfield is taken over by the Royal New Zealand Air Force during World War II for military use. Civil operations are conducted by the Air Force at the Whenuapai airfield.
  • 1945
    Auckland City Council decides to shift Auckland's official airport to Whenuapai from May 1945, and Auckland Aero Club resumes control of the Mangere airfield.
  • 1948
    A British civil aviation review of Whenuapai finds it is unable to meet international aviation standards, because of surrounding hills and the impossibly high cost of extending runways to meet the demands of larger aircraft now operating on international routes.
  • 1955
    In September 1955, Mangere is announced by Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr T.P. Shand, as the site for the future Auckland International Airport.
  • 1965 - 2000
    For forty years, Whenuapai Airbase is used exclusively for military purposes. As air defence operations have been scaled down and in some sectors relocated to Ohakea, the 21st century sees a much quieter Whenuapai Airbase that currently has little or no negative impact on the community or environment that includes the unique estuarine upper harbour.
    As the long term future of the airbase comes under discussion so too does the 'what to do with the land'. There are a number of options for using the land, the best being the retention of a New Zealand defence presence at Whenuapai. Leading the charge for the great land grab is Waitakere City Council who issue an notice of intention to enter into an agreement with airport company Infratil in an effort to establish Whenuapai as a second commercial airport for Auckland.
  • 2003
    WAAG is established as a not for profit, community based action group to fight the Waitakere City Council proposal for a commercial airport. WAAG represents the varying interests of the local communities of Whenuapai, Herald Island, and many North Shore residents who, whilst falling out of the jurisdiction or sphere of influence of Waitakere City Council, are the most likely to lose the most in terms of the negative impacts of a commercial airport at Whenuapai.
  • 2003
    The New Zealand Defence Force undertakes a voluntary submission process in respect to the potential usage of the airbase land. Of the more than 2200 voluntary respondents an overwhelming 75% opposed any moves for a commercial airport at Whenuapai. To date, this is the only comprehensive survey of public opinion ever undertaken by any of the three councils being; Waitakere City Council, North Shore City Council and Rodney City Council, all of who are pursuing a course of collusion in an effort to enter into a commercial arrangement with Infratil thereby paving the way for a commercial airport, despite the popular opinion of their constituents.
  • Dec 2004
    Hon Jim Anderton announces that the Government has decided not to proceed with the disposal of Whenuapai Airbase until after the Airforce has moved to Ohakea in an estimated 6-10 years time (2010 and beyond). Furthermore, the government of New Zealand states that there are "no compelling national or strategic considerations to justify central government's involvement in establishing a commercial airport at Whenuapai". The Whenuapai land will be offered back to the original owners of sold in terms of the Public Works Act.
    It looks as though a commercial airport is on the 'back burner' but not for long.
  • Jan 2005
    North Shore City Council meets and passes a resolution to support Infratil and Waitakere City Council's proposal to develop, in conjunction with the Military a commercial airport at Whenuapai as a dual commercial / military airport. This decision is also at odds with the government's Ministry of Economic Development report stating that it is not in the interest of Auckland or New Zealand to have two commercial airports in the Auckland region. This decision is also in defiance to popular opinion and the interests of residents in the Whenuapai, Herald Island, Greenhithe, Albany, Pinehill, Glenfield, Murrays Bay, Mairangi Bay, Browns Bay and Rothesay Bay communities.
  • 2006
    The Waitakere City Council, North Shore City Council and Infratil form a company North West Airport Ltd. Infratil gives 10% of the shareholding to each Council as a 'sweetener', thus ensuring that each Council's position is compromised when endeavouring to look after the interests of their ratepayers.
  • 2007
    In late December 2006, the Waitakere City Council promulgates Plan Change 22, with submissions under the RMA process being required to be made by 7 March 2007. We are now awaiting the next phase which is the delivery of a submission summary to those who made submissions and counter submissions. At this stage, anyone who did not make an original submission can' join in' another submission.