Award for Whanganui Airport infrastructure project

Published on 26 November 2024

Fulton Hogan and Whanganui District Council joint media release

Whanganui Airport and Fulton Hogan have been recognised with the Small Airport Infrastructure award at the annual New Zealand Airports Awards held in Hamilton.

The award recognises excellence in airport infrastructure development and upgrades for New Zealand airports handling less than 200,000 passengers a year.  The judges noted that the resurfacing of Whanganui Airport’s runway and apron was the airport’s most significant airside works since its original construction.

It required an integrated supply chain with crew from Dunedin, Manawatū-Whanganui, Waikato, Auckland and Christchurch working seamlessly; and a design-and-build process minimising price and timeframes while maximising the infrastructure owners’ oversight and control.

The resurfacing work included the airport's runway, taxiway and apron areas – a total area of 72,200m². Carrying out the runway work at night work ensured regular passenger services were not disrupted. Each night, up to 50 trucks delivered around 600 tonnes of asphalt, which was laid over a 130-meter section of the 1.4 km-long runway. WDC and airport staff were on-site at all times to ensure compliance with Civil Aviation Rules and airport procedures.

Adding to the complexity of the project was the concurrent day-time works to construct a new aircraft hardstand adjacent to the Air Whanganui hangars. This hardstand allows Air Whanganui to conduct patient transfers in their hangars under shelter and with improved patient privacy, while also freeing up much needed aircraft parking space on the existing apron area.

This recognition highlights the hard work and collaboration between Whanganui District Council's capital projects team, Whanganui Airport staff and Fulton Hogan to ensure the continuing operation of the airport for all airport users for many years to come.

"This award recognises the meticulous planning and well executed project delivery, all while the airport remained fully operational,’ council general manager, community property and places, Sarah O'Hagan says.

"I would like to acknowledge the whole team effort to deliver this project on time, on budget, with no disruptions to the airport operations, and no community complaints during the extensive works programme." 

Read more about the project on the council website

Image: Whanganui Airport manager Phil McBride (third from left) at the NZ Airports Association Awards Dinner 2024 with (left to right) Greg Thompson (national surfacing engineering manager, Fulton Hogan), Vic Maggs (regional manager Manawatū-Whanganui, Fulton Hogan), and Whanganui Airport safety officer Matt Nation.