MEDIA RELEASE: Hawke’s Bay businesses are expressing strong interest in being part of the Hawke’s Bay Airport’s proposed terminal expansion.
The Airport’s chief executive Nick Story says the level of local interest was very encouraging and it was great to see local Hawke’s Bay people were keen to be involved with the project as it progressed.
“This is an opportunity for local businesses to be involved in the development of a significant regional asset and gateway to Hawke’s Bay,” Mr Story said.
The Airport has called for expressions of interest for supply of design services for the proposed terminal expansion and rescue fire station.
While the project is waiting for final approval, the expressions of interest allowed the Airport to meet the long lead times for the detailed design process and to understand the associated costs,” Mr Story said.
“We are planning to have a design team in place by early October along with final approval from the Airport Company’s shareholders,” he said.
Impact Project Management, which is managing the design process for the Airport, has already received over 50 expressions of interest and there is still another week to go.
Airports Project Manager John Howarth said it is fantastic to see the strong local interest coming through along with a good level of national enquiry. It’s a very exciting and high-profile project for Hawke’s Bay and already we can see it is going to be a very competitive and robust tender process.”
Mr Story said the Airport needed to expand its current terminal floor area to accommodate projected growth in future passenger numbers over the next 15 years and to provide a good level of passenger and visitor amenity and experience at the gateway to the Hawke’s Bay Region.
Jetstar’s requirements have been taken into the design consideration should Hawke’s Bay be selected.
Sixteen Hawke’s Bay Café operators expressed an interest to be involved in a request for proposal process for the Airport Café and Retail business opportunity. The successful tenderer will be announced by the end of the month.
“Our annual passenger numbers have grown by 37.5% over the last decade reaching 476,000 in the year to 30 June, 2015. In the next five years they are projected to grow by a further 15%.
A new purpose-designed rescue fire station that can withstand a severe earthquake will also be part of the project that is able to be operational during a disaster.
The company’s shareholders will be asked to approve a supporting business case for an indicative project cost of between $6-$8m prior to any development works commencing. The expressions of interest close on Friday July 24 2015.
For any enquiries please contact Nick Story, Chief Executive, Hawke’s Bay Airport Ltd.