Media Release
From: Nick Fisher

Convenor, Paraparaumu Airport Coalition

The convenor of the Paraparaumu Airport Coalition, Nick Fisher, has slated the Environment Court’s decision to approve major redevelopment at Paraparaumu Airport.

He says:”We are disappointed but not surprised at the decision; that is the way it works – big money overrides the community every time.

“It is sad that airport safety will continue to deteriorate,” he says. “The closure of one runway to cater for big box development and the increase in cross wind turbulence will undoubtedly mean more hazardous flying and the risk of more mid-air crashes.

“Unfortunately for everyone we failed to convince the EC that this danger should concern them, the Court preferring to regard it as an operational matter,” Mr Fisher says.

“he New Zealand Transport Agency are now accepting that Kapiti road is at capacity, yet the computer models used by the developers managed to ‘prove’ to the Court that Kapiti road would cope with 1000 extra vehicles a day,” he says.

“One thing that did surprise us in the decision is that the Court will allow development without completion of the Western Link Road – as long as it is started. How starting a road mitigates adverse effects I have no idea.

“That the land required for development is surplus to requirements is self-evident, and there is now an opening for the descendants of the original owners to request its return,” says Mr Fisher.

“This appeal was just the first step in the struggle to keep our airport as a safe, functioning strategic asset, without destroying the heart of Paraparaumu.”

ENDS

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