We are the Guardians of the Bays, a group of concerned Wellington residents. We formed this group in 2013 to counteract the seemingly gung-ho approach of the Wellington City Council (WCC) and the Wellington International Airport Limited (WIAL) regarding the long-touted extension of the airport runway – either to the North into Evens Bay, or,ContinueContinue reading “Introducing the Guardians of the Bays”
Category Archives: Blog Post
Scoop: Lengthening the runway: $3m, so far, from the council to the airport company
Wellington City Councillors (but not all of them) have voted to give another $2million to the airport company, to help it continue making plans for a longer runway. They gave the first $1million to the controversial cause in May last year. And last night they decided to make a second payment, double the first amount.ContinueContinue reading “Scoop: Lengthening the runway: $3m, so far, from the council to the airport company”
Stuff Opinion: Wellington needs a longer runway? Yeah, right
OPINION: When the canon of lost causes is examined in the future, somewhere near the top of the list for Wellington will be the local airport’s weird campaign for a longer runway. In recent weeks, Wellington International Airport has been running full page advertisements in local newspapers which, while no doubt welcome cashflow for theContinueContinue reading “Stuff Opinion: Wellington needs a longer runway? Yeah, right”
Keith Johnson: Wellington City Council Debt: Big Ideas and the Gamble for Growth
UNWELCOME FACTS New Zealand as a whole is very similar in terms of both population and GDP to the US State of Kentucky. As far as the Wellington Region is concerned, the metro areas of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Tulsa, Oklahoma are reasonable comparators. Getting down to Wellington City itself, you can pair it off withContinueContinue reading “Keith Johnson: Wellington City Council Debt: Big Ideas and the Gamble for Growth”
Wellington Airport Progress, Leaks, Parking, and Posturing
At the risk of annoying the Chairman of the WIAL Board again, I have some updates on the planned airport extension that have been sent to me by one of the local residents. It makes for interesting reading to say the least and we can be absolutely certain that nothing will be happening anytime soon.ContinueContinue reading “Wellington Airport Progress, Leaks, Parking, and Posturing”
Stuff Business Opinion: Flight of fancy or city’s saviour?
OPINION: Chalkie was reminded recently of an episode of The Simpsons where the people of Springfield support a civic monorail simply because its huckster proponent suggests it might be “more of a Shelbyville idea”, thus raising the prospect of a win for the town’s neighbouring rival. Perfectly captured was the cargo cult mentality that canContinueContinue reading “Stuff Business Opinion: Flight of fancy or city’s saviour?”
The Dominion Post Opinion: Airport extension will affect us all
OPINION: Evan’s Bay is an iconic part of the Wellington harbour “blue belt”. Stormy days have their own wild beauty, while in sunny times the water is dotted with sails, recreational anglers hang out their lines, and swimmers, cyclists and walkers soak up the warmth and the ambience. Pods of orcas and other fish cruiseContinueContinue reading “The Dominion Post Opinion: Airport extension will affect us all”
Wellington Airport and the Death of Bridge Street
In May of 2012 residents of Eastern Suburbs warned that airport plans were likely to create a “wasteland” and looking at the evidence, this seems to have come to pass. The airport in its insatiable drive to collect more land (undoubtedly to build more carparks) has destroyed a once thriving community street in Rongotai. InContinueContinue reading “Wellington Airport and the Death of Bridge Street”
The Dominion Post: Rongotai homes disappearing
A home is moved from Bridge St, Miramar, as the airport removes properties in its noise zone. Houses in Bridge St are starting to disappear as Wellington Airport forges ahead with plans to remove 44 homes near its runway. One house had already been removed from the area in Rongotai and another was ”jacked up”ContinueContinue reading “The Dominion Post: Rongotai homes disappearing”
The Dominion Post: Airport plans may create ‘wasteland’
FORCED TO SELL: Bridge Street resident Heather Courtney. The Wellington Airport noise zone. Heather Courtney says her retirement plans were thrown into disarray by a letter in her mail box this week. The Bridge St resident is one of 22 home owners on the edge of Wellington Airport’s runway who were told the airport wouldContinueContinue reading “The Dominion Post: Airport plans may create ‘wasteland’”
Guardians of the Bays 