Provincial Growth Fund puts up $2 million to fix Westport Airport seawall

Thursday, 13 June 2019

More than $2m from the Provincial Growth Fund will go towards repairing a seawall at Westport Airport, located near Carters Beach (pictured).

More than $2 million from the public purse will go towards fixing Westport Airport from cyclone damage.

The airport suffered from erosion damage to its seawall during ex-Cyclone Fehi in 2018. About 300 metres of the 700m seawall collapsed, leaving only 58m of clearway on one side of the runway.

The Provincial Growth Fund will provide $2.074m for the repairs. The funding is approved in principle, dependent on contract negotiation.

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones said the airport was an important gateway into and out of the Buller district, so tenders for the work would be called for urgently.

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He said the airport had about 10,000 passengers per year on commercial and recreational flights, as well as landings from the air ambulance and military operations.

'The Buller district is one of the most isolated areas in New Zealand, and its people have to access vital services. This investment will keep the community connected and enable future growth.'

Rural Communities Minister and West Coast MP Damien O'Connor said the airport was a core infrastructural asset and its loss would be a huge step back for the district and the region.

Buller mayor Garry Howard said the funding meant resilience improvements at the airport could be done with reduced costs to ratepayers.

Air New Zealand pulled out of the airport in 2015. It was replaced by Sounds Air, which flies 13 return services between Westport and Wellington weekly.