A
New Zealand pilots' group says the fill from a proposed second Mt
Victoria tunnel could be used as part of a runway extension at
Wellington airport.
New Zealand
Air Line Pilots' Association (NZALPA) technical Director Stuart Julian
says if the second tunnel were to be given the green light, the material
excavated during its construction could be used in any plan to extend
the runway.
"NZALPA would be very
open to having a full and comprehensive brief about those elements of
the project because I think there's potential for some win-win
situations there," he says.
The
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) announced yesterday a plan for a
second tunnel to increase capacity and efficiency of the road system.
It would be built right next to the existing tunnel and provide two lanes for eastbound traffic.
An airport
spokesperson says resource consent for the runway extension could take
up to two years and the build could take between three and five years.
The
airport was considering all construction options, but the most likely
was reclamation of land north into Evans Bay. An extension to the south
would mean building into 10m swells in the Cook Strait, the spokesperson
says.
The NZALPA is in Wellington
for its annual conference and among the major issues being discussed
were the construction of a new air traffic control tower at Wellington
Airport, the use of handheld lasers and an upcoming review of the Civil
Aviation Act.
Mr Julian is in favour
of the airport's plans to extend its runway and says an important part
of the investment "is ensuring that Wellington Airport is provided with
240m of a runway end safety area (RESA) which meets internationally
recognised safety standards".
"When
you consider Wellington Airport’s environment including water, hills and
wind conditions, NZALPA believes 240m of RESA is essential for the
completion of a successful project."
An extension of the runway would allow more and larger aircraft to land at the airport, he says.
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