The Queenstown Lakes District Council has made a strategic building and lease purchase at Wanaka Airport, QLDC finance general manager and deputy chief executive Stewart Burns said.

The decision to purchase the Aspiring Air lease and buildings for $220,000 was made by Council in public excluded on 28 June.

“Unfortunately the sensitivity of this commercial negotiation precluded any public conversation regarding the purchase. Given the budget was already available for terminal expenditure the decision places no additional burden on the ratepayer,” Mr Burns said.

The site was a strategically important location - being in a prime position directly opposite the main sealed apron and the taxiway to the runway - that was tied up in a lease through to 2017.

“This has been identified, together with the adjacent land, for a future Wanaka Airport Terminal development,” Mr Burns said.

It was an objective of the Wanaka Airport to gain control of terminal facilities needed for scheduled air services.

The capital budget for the Wanaka airport includes $3.36m related to development of a passenger terminal over 10-years. 

“Much of this was provided on the assumption that we would need to build our own facility. The purchase of the Aspiring Air building means that we can defer most of this cost,” Mr Burns said.

The Council also agreed to write-off $28,136 in Aspiring Air arrears.

ENDS
For further information please contact Stewart Burns 03 441 0499.

By: Andrea Bunting