Runway proposal adds noise

Auckland Airport’s plans to build a second runway will mean more noise for Mangere, Flat Bush and Otara residents.

The second runway will be located north of the new combined domestic and international terminal running alongside the airport’s existing runway.

Auckland Airport expects the second runway to be operational by 2028, when the current southern runway will reach capacity.

The project has been on the horizon for years. Consent was first approved for a second runway in 2002, but Auckland Airport intends to build a runway further north and 833 metres longer than what was consented.

The proposed changes mean an additional 475 residents will be affected by the increased noise, bringing the total in the surrounding area to over 500.

Auckland Airport put out an interactive map for nearby residents to see how they would be affected by the build.

The company has lodged two notice of requirement applications with the Auckland Council, one to extend the consented length of the runway and the other to make changes to the airport’s ‘‘obstacle limitation surfaces’’, which restricts the maximum height of buildings and trees in an airspace.

The airport has long planned a second runway to cope with an expected doubling of visitors over the next 25 years.

Passenger numbers are forecast to reach 40 million a year by 2044, up from 19 million now.

While the cost of the new runway has not been finalised, $202 million has been set aside for the first five years.

Passenger fees will be raised by $1.29 (excluding GST) from 2021 to fund the project.