The findings of an independent study recommending the replacement of the existing terminal and control tower at Nelson Airport in New Zealand have been accepted by the airport’s board.
The study included input from quantity surveyors, structural and service engineers, and project consultants Impact Project Management and Studio Pacific Architecture. The current airport terminal is more than 40 years old and its expansion will help to deal with predicted future growth at the airport.
Robert Evans, chief executive for Nelson Airport, said, “We asked for a comparison of the costs, project time and inconvenience for airport users, of remediating the current facilities or undertaking a total rebuild.
“The review was very comprehensive and we received compelling reasons why a new build is the best way to provide an airport of the future that will meet our region’s growth aspirations.
“Our consultants estimate that a rebuild will be quicker than remediation, and it will also be less intrusive on operations and less expensive. It will provide much greater flexibility in terms of how we are able to use the space available, rather than trying to work around the constraints of the existing building.
“By the end of 2017 we are forecasting more than one million passengers with over 300 flights per week. That is extraordinary for a regional destination.”
