A new $80,000 fuel tank being installed at Pukaki Airport at
no cost to ratepayers is the latest development at the
Mackenzie District Council-owned facility.
Since the council took over the airport on State Highway 8
just outside Twizel it has been extensively redeveloped,
including an aviation park subdivision which has helped
provide the capital.
The airport is run by the Pukaki Airport Board, appointed by
the council.
Board chairman Derek Kirke, of Wanaka, said the council had
spent $550,000 buying the former airfield and about 220ha of
surrounding land from Ben Ohau Station.
Last year, the board paid back the council the $550,000 it
owed.
"As far as I know, it is the only publicly owned airport in
New Zealand that has required no capital input or ongoing
contributions from ratepayers," he said.
After buying the land, it embarked on a two stage development
of the aviation park, with a total of 53 sections being
created, along with the necessary infrastructure.
Mr Kirke said almost all of the stage one development of 30
sections had been sold, along with some in stage two.
The latest project is to install a dual aviation tank to
supply the two different types of fuel needed by commercial
operators.
The above-ground tank will hold 20,000 litres of Jet A1 fuel
and 15,000 litres of AvgasAt present, Air Safaris and
Helicopter Line operate from the airport, but there have been
inquiries from other potential operators.
Those had been put on hold because of the current economic
recession, but Mr Kirke expected them to be reactivated once
conditions improved.
Mr Kirke said the commercial operators had to make their own
arrangements for fuel, but once the tanks were completed by
Christmas they would have fuel available on site.
A second project the board is looking at is to provide a 500m
grass cross-wind runway for light aircraft to complement the
1100m sealed strip.
A decision was expected on that in January.
Other proposals being considered include a sky division
operation and an aircraft maintenance centre.
david.bruce@odt.co.nz
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