A before and after view of the expansion project. Credit: the Airport NOR. For many years, Wellington Airport has been making plans for expansion. In its 2040 master plan, it talks about the runway extension though this has faced fierce and, to some extent, successful opposition. The airport is also looking at expanding towards the East, overContinue reading "An expansion, no matter what"
RE-BLOG: Last to Zero?
In August last year, the Wellington City Council declared a climate emergency, and released a blueprint outlining intentions and objectives to make the city carbon neutral by 2050. With a 30 year horizon, it was hard to get past the irony of the program name “Te Atakura, First to Zero.” Hopefully, by then, Wellington willContinue reading "RE-BLOG: Last to Zero?"
GotB Submission to Parliament on the COVID-19 Fast Track Consenting Bill
Just recently the GotB Executive prepared a submission to Parliament on the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast Track Consenting) Bill. Our submission, also presented orally by Yvonne Weeber, expressed concern about the lack of consultation with the wider community, the lack of reference to carbon reduction, and the need for a "greater good" context in which decision-makingContinue reading "GotB Submission to Parliament on the COVID-19 Fast Track Consenting Bill"
PRESS RELEASE: City must end support for airport’s runway extension plan, say Guardians
April 15, 2019 News from Guardians of the Bays Wellington International Airport’s decision to withdraw its Environment Court application should mark the end of a protracted and costly process for ratepayers, according to community organisations and concerned Wellingtonians opposed to the project. The Airport first lodged its application for resource consent with the Environment CourtContinue reading "PRESS RELEASE: City must end support for airport’s runway extension plan, say Guardians"
Media release: Wellington Airport’s proposed extension proposal still doesn’t stack up
A decision by the Environment Court to proceed with Wellington International Airport’s runway extension application is disappointing given the length of delays, increasing costs and strong public opposition, according to community groups opposed to the proposal. Richard Randerson, Co-Chair of Guardians of the Bays, representing more than 600 concerned individuals and community groups said WellingtonContinue reading "Media release: Wellington Airport’s proposed extension proposal still doesn’t stack up"
DOMINION POST: Wellington Airport runway extension plan staying on hold for six more months
By Tom Hunt and Thomas Manch, January 8, 2019 Sea Rotmann has six more months of uncertainty after a decision allowing Wellington Airport long-lingering runway extension application to remain on hold until May. Further down Rotmann's seaside road, it is six more months of sleepless nights and "wondering what the hell is going to happen" for MartynContinue reading "DOMINION POST: Wellington Airport runway extension plan staying on hold for six more months"
Opinion: WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MOA POINTER, PART 2 – THE ENVIRONMENT COURT FILES
A few years ago, I wrote a blog about what it means to be a Moa Pointer. As much as I waxed lyrically about the “best sunset spot in town” and our amazing, if often endangered natural taonga, I have to highlight my prescience when writing these words: “It is important to note that notContinue reading "Opinion: WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MOA POINTER, PART 2 – THE ENVIRONMENT COURT FILES"
NEWS Radio NZ: ‘Deja vu’ for Wellington Airport extension
[Ed: note that some typos and mistakes have been corrected and explanatory commentary has been inserted, where relevant] There will be no satisfactory outcome when a final decision on the Wellington Airport extension resource consent is released, an Environment Court judge has said. Wellington Airport Photo: Supplied At a judicial conference in the Environment Court, Judge BrianContinue reading "NEWS Radio NZ: ‘Deja vu’ for Wellington Airport extension"
MEDIA RELEASE: Wellington International Airport should do the right thing and pull plans to extend runway
Media Release by the Guardians of the Bays An announcement that hearings for Wellington Airport's runway extension could be potentially delayed till late 2019 should be a final nail in the coffin for the Airport’s proposal, according to community and ratepayer groups concerned about the mounting costs to Wellingtonians. Guardians of the Bays, representing almostContinue reading "MEDIA RELEASE: Wellington International Airport should do the right thing and pull plans to extend runway"
SAFETY FIRST: WHAT THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION AND THE PILOTS’ ASSOCATION’S WIN MEANS TO THE RUNWAY EXTENSION – AND HOW WIAL IS TRYING TO GET AROUND IT
Legal matters can be confounding to the lay person, to say the least, and the ongoing saga of the New Zealand’s Air Line Pilots’ Association (“NZALPA”) vs the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director (“the Director”) and Wellington Airport International Limited (“WIAL”) has been more confounding than most. This saga started back in at least 2013,Continue reading "SAFETY FIRST: WHAT THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION AND THE PILOTS’ ASSOCATION’S WIN MEANS TO THE RUNWAY EXTENSION – AND HOW WIAL IS TRYING TO GET AROUND IT"
Guardians of the Bays 