$6.7m for Far North pinch points
Four more projects in Northland will receive another multimilliondollar funding boost from the Government’s $3 billion provincial growth fund.
On Friday, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced $6.7 million for the projects, including $1.7m for a new terminal at the Bay of Islands airport near Kerikeri, $2.9m to upgrade Paihia wharf, $1.1m to upgrade Russell wharf and $890,000 for a wharf-side pontoon in Opua.
Jones made the announcement at the Bay of Islands airport, along with Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis, Labour MP WillowJean Prime and Far North Deputy Mayor Tania McInnes.
The airport was one of the fastest growing regional airports in the country and an upgrade was desperately needed, Jones said.
About 96,000 people used the airport during 2017, which required Air NZ to put on additional flights to meet the demand. ‘‘The current terminal is not fit for purpose and does not meet Air NZ’s requirements, while growth in passenger numbers is also putting pressure on the existing facilities,’’ Jones said.
‘‘A new terminal will relieve congestion and cater to visitor growth by boosting capacity and improving facilities for passengers arriving in the Far North.
‘‘This is a project that will improve connectivity for tourism, the local community and businesses in the Far North and help support the growing tourism sector and create new jobs.’’
Passenger numbers have grown by a third since Air NZ started flying larger aircraft on the Auckland-Kerikeri route, with a record 98,844 people flying into or out of the airport between July 2016 and June 2017.
Airport owner and operator Far North Holdings chief executive Andy Nock said the funding would enable the inclusion of a baggage screening area to future proof the new terminal against requirements for such a facility by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Nock said the Bay of Islands had seen the biggest regional growth percentage wise of any airport in New Zealand.
‘‘We’ve gone from 60,000 to
100,000 [flights] in less than four years and we need to be able to cater for that. After State Highway
1, the airport is this district’s most significant transport lifeline.’’ Nock said the four announcements ‘‘provide the funding needed to maintain and upgrade key items of infrastructure that underpin our district’s tourism industry and the wider economy’’.
‘‘Paihia and Russell wharves are two of the busiest in New Zealand and in great need of being improved to meet the demands placed on them.’’
The announcement comes three weeks after Jones announced $17.35m for several projects in Northland, including a $9m roundabout on State Highway 10 in Waipapa.