Wellington Airport has welcomed fast-track approval for
its southern seawall renewal project, which will help
protect the airport from the forces of the Southern
Ocean.
“Wellington Airport’s seawalls were
constructed starting in 1954, and from that date various
improvements and extensions have been added. The southern
seawall is now reaching the end of its lifespan and needs a
major upgrade,” says Wellington Airport chief executive
Matt Clarke.
“The south end of the airport runway
faces directly into the Southern Ocean. Wave heights in Cook
Strait regularly exceed 10 metres and require substantial
seawall defences to withstand major weather events. The
renewed seawall will protect airport operations for decades
to come, so we can continue connecting Wellington to the
world.
“The seawall project is the first in the
Wellington region to be granted a fast-track consent. Years
of work has gone into planning this project, including
optioneering, design, and constructability assessments, and
careful consultation with airlines, councils, iwi and local
residents.
“This approval reflects that hard work
and we’ll continue to work closely with all of our
neighbours and stakeholders throughout the delivery of the
project.”
The project will completely overlay a new
seawall over the old one, using large concrete armour units
and rock.
Enabling works are likely to begin this year
and construction is planned to begin in the Airport’s
2029-2034 capital planning period, subject to further
consultation with
airlines.
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