Paraparaumu Airport - possible closure

Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › Paraparaumu Airport - possible closure

Technofreak

6656 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3474

Trusted

#273258 13-Aug-2020 09:21

I see in the news a few days ago that there's strong rumours the owners of Paraparaumu airport want to close it.

I don't live there but visit the area several times a year to see relatives, sometimes by air other times by car. From my perspective it would be a big negative for the area if Paraparaumu airport were to close. It'll be nigh on impossible to get another one built in that area at a future date.

I see this airport as being strategically important to the immediate Kapiti area as well as the greater Wellington area. One importance is the redundancy in the event of a natural disaster in the Wellington region

I wonder what the people in the Paraparaumu area think of potentially losing their airport?

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

1 | 2 | 3

6028 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 461

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2539919 13-Aug-2020 09:21

Allow me to introduce you folks to our new travel community: TravelTalk NZ.

We hope to see you there!

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

nztim

4012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2710

ID Verified

Trusted

TEAMnetwork

Subscriber

#2539927 13-Aug-2020 09:33

yes its a bit sad, I often used it if flying to Auckland med week as it was quicker to drive to Paraparaumu from Porirua than it is to Wellington airport

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

cshwone

1092 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 847

#2539951 13-Aug-2020 10:03

Air Chathams have made a serious go at a viable Kapiti-AKL link which would be a pity to lose. They had also indicated the potential to get the Hood to AKL service going again.

Logical way of doing this would have been a Paraparaumu-Masterton-Auckland round robin.

It will come down to KCDC in the end as they control the use case for the land.

nickb800

2735 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 829

Trusted

#2539974 13-Aug-2020 10:35

Locals are pretty well up in arms on the community Facebook pages about it. Locals are pretty unhappy about rate rises too though, so I think council ownership is probably out of the question. There's a lot of work involved in running even a small airport, and I see many council-owned airports struggle to get the funds for CAPEX like runway renewals.

We've been fairly lucky for the past 20-30 years, in that previous owners have been happy to let profits from property development cover any shortfalls from running the airport. My understanding is that there was a introductory deal for AirNZ which saw the airport company cover the (not insubstantial) Airways costs. Having the Airways tower close will probably help bring airport costs closer to airport revenues, but I'd imagine it's still a loss maker. Improvements to SH1 (Transmission Gully, second Terrace and Mount Vic tunnel) will bring Kapiti 'closer' to Wellington over the next 2-20 years, and bypassing Otaki and Levin in the next 2-10 years will bring us 'closer' to Palmerston North airport. Both make Kapiti airport an even more marginal proposition.

It was inevitable that the airport would end up with an owner that wanted the property development profits without airport costs. While rezoning the airport land for development will be politically unpopular, the politicians won't actually get to have a say: while a private plan change process is run by the district council, the actual decision is made by an independent hearing commissioner in consideration of the district plan and effects of the proposed development.

WyleECoyoteNZ

1055 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 372

#2539975 13-Aug-2020 10:35

There hasn't been any flight services there for a little while

https://www.airways.co.nz/media-centre/media-statements/changes-to-air-traffic-services-reflect-profoundly-altered-industry/

frankv

5705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3666

Lifetime subscriber

#2539976 13-Aug-2020 10:38

Paraparaumu airport has been under threat for years, and bits have been nibbled off from time to time. With increasing pressure on land for houses and therefore increasing land prices, it's to be expected, unless there is a longterm decision by the powers-that-be that it should remain.

Maybe the best answer is to close it, and use the proceeds to build a new airport somewhere where there's less housing pressure. Except that there's not much flat land around Wellington that isn't encroached by housing.

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

nickb800

2735 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 829

Trusted

#2539979 13-Aug-2020 10:40

WyleECoyoteNZ:

There hasn't been any flight services there for a little while

https://www.airways.co.nz/media-centre/media-statements/changes-to-air-traffic-services-reflect-profoundly-altered-industry/

I know that the proposed control tower closures haven't come into effect yet - so I assume flight information services are the same. At the moment, Airways is trying to reduce headcount/costs by thinning rosters rather than full closures.

MikeB4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12766

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2539991 13-Aug-2020 10:54

The land is probably more valuable subdivided for residential.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

elpenguino

3577 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2938

#2539994 13-Aug-2020 10:59

Ironic in the extreme to hear suggestions of council ownership - which would complete the loop back to public ownership in the 80s. Maybe seeing the airport sold to a series of private owners who have each taken profit gains followed by closure will finally make people think about the wisdom of putting strategic assets in private hands.

I can see a large impact on the recreational aviation users - there is nowhere close with a paved runway for GA, except Palmerston North.

I think the suggestion of developing a new airport somewhere else overlooks the fact that it's way easier and cheaper to develop an asset that already exists than create a new one. The challenge is to make this one pay its' way, not matter who owns it.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

MikeB4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12766

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2539998 13-Aug-2020 11:02

In my view I would prefer to see Wellington Airport closed and Kapiti become the capitals airport.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

WyleECoyoteNZ

1055 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 372

#2540002 13-Aug-2020 11:14

elpenguino:

Ironic in the extreme to hear suggestions of council ownership - which would complete the loop back to public ownership in the 80s. Maybe seeing the airport sold to a series of private owners who have each taken profit gains followed by closure will finally make people think about the wisdom of putting strategic assets in private hands.

I can see a large impact on the recreational aviation users - there is nowhere close with a paved runway for GA, except Palmerston North.

I think the suggestion of developing a new airport somewhere else overlooks the fact that it's way easier and cheaper to develop an asset that already exists than create a new one. The challenge is to make this one pay its' way, not matter who owns it.

Wairarapa has the Hood Aerodrome in Masterton too.

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

frankv

5705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3666

Lifetime subscriber

#2540006 13-Aug-2020 11:19

elpenguino:

Ironic in the extreme to hear suggestions of council ownership - which would complete the loop back to public ownership in the 80s. Maybe seeing the airport sold to a series of private owners who have each taken profit gains followed by closure will finally make people think about the wisdom of putting strategic assets in private hands.

I can see a large impact on the recreational aviation users - there is nowhere close with a paved runway for GA, except Palmerston North.

I think the suggestion of developing a new airport somewhere else overlooks the fact that it's way easier and cheaper to develop an asset that already exists than create a new one. The challenge is to make this one pay its' way, not matter who owns it.

I agree with all your points. However, there sometimes comes a point where a new development is actually cheaper and better than maintaining and upgrading something that is no longer really fit for purpose. I don't know whether Paraparaumu airport has reached that point or not. But, so long as land prices rise, it will always be a challenge to make it pay its way. Legislative protection of its status longterm would shift the focus of developers to other targets, and therefore perhaps keep its value down?

BlueOwl

87 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 69

Lifetime subscriber

#2540008 13-Aug-2020 11:24

Sounds like it's going the same way as Kaitaia airport - which is running on a shoestring, and definitely at a loss. Owned by the council, I believe.

Sure, the land is worth more if redeveloped for housing, or maybe put to other use such as agriculture or farming. But just keep in mind that if you live in the area and suddenly need an emergency medical team or evacuation to a major hospital, then you'll be glad that the runway wasn't replaced with houses. Airports have value in more ways than the land they're occupying.

elpenguino

3577 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2938

#2540011 13-Aug-2020 11:28

MikeB4:

In my view I would prefer to see Wellington Airport closed and Kapiti become the capitals airport.

That is often mooted but the runway is not long enough, let alone is there room for all the infrastructure that is also needed.

Need some storage space? Oh cool, look at those big new buildings literally on Kapiti airport.....

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

elpenguino

3577 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2938

#2540013 13-Aug-2020 11:30

WyleECoyoteNZ:

elpenguino:

Ironic in the extreme to hear suggestions of council ownership - which would complete the loop back to public ownership in the 80s. Maybe seeing the airport sold to a series of private owners who have each taken profit gains followed by closure will finally make people think about the wisdom of putting strategic assets in private hands.

I can see a large impact on the recreational aviation users - there is nowhere close with a paved runway for GA, except Palmerston North.

I think the suggestion of developing a new airport somewhere else overlooks the fact that it's way easier and cheaper to develop an asset that already exists than create a new one. The challenge is to make this one pay its' way, not matter who owns it.

Wairarapa has the Hood Aerodrome in Masterton too.

Hood is really close to Kapiti if you fly there, but if you need to drive, it's actually close to 2 hours drive time.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

1 | 2 | 3