Taupō District mayor David Trewavas has welcomed today’s announcement from regional economic development minister Shane Jones outlining $5.87m of government funding for the re-development of the Taupō Airport.
The funding – which comes from the Provincial Growth Fund ($5 million) and the New Zealand Upgrade Programme ($870,000) - will enable a new terminal to be built, a car park extension, and the expansion of the airside apron in order to operate larger aircraft safely.
“This investment is a huge step forward for us and one which is essential to this district’s growth and prosperity. I am so pleased the Government is backing the future of our airport and has the confidence in our district to invest here,” said Mr Trewavas.
“We might be small, but we have big aspirations, and our airport – as a key gateway to the Central North Island and the Central Plateau - is a vital part of that. Importantly, this investment will complement other major investments central and local government has made here including the Sky Waka Gondola at Whakapapa.
“We’ll be able to accommodate bigger planes and larger numbers of passengers coming into and out of the Taupō District; the opportunities that affords is really exciting.
“For local businesses, it will open more doors for growth and expansion and just as importantly, it will allow us to welcome the growing number of tourists every year.
“There really is no better time to ensure we have the necessary capacity to facilitate this growth.
“Of course, we couldn’t have done this without the support of the Ministry of Transport – our joint venture partner in this important regional asset, and we will continue to work closely with all of our stakeholders as we progress,” he said.
In total, the airport upgrade is expected to cost $9.7m and will be funded in partnership with council and central government.
The project is expected to begin in March 2020 and be complete by October 2021.
