At the Airport, we need A New Terminal Building

A leaking roof and an overflowing bucket, and more lately a piece of spouting to carry the water away; a pot-bellied coke stove that belongs in a museum; scruffy floors; dusty and stained ceilings; an overnight storage room for freight which is often crammed to over-capacity and a parking area that is far from adequate for the best part of the day. These are the facilities which constitute our Nelson airport terminal building. The City Council, as the airport authority, has been pushing (but all too gently, we fear) for a new terminal for about five years now, while airports in other parts of the country, with a much smaller turn-round of aircraft than Nelson handles, have brand, spanking new buildings.

The council has been told that working drawings for the new terminal building can be proceeded with "once approval has been given by the Cabinet Works Committee." But what we and all of Nelson want to know is - when will that be? We know the country has its financial problems at the moment, but some money is still being spent by Government and why not at Nelson?

So, let's emulate some of our more northern neighbours and kick up a fuss until we get it. We know we're not a marginal seat, but if we make as much noise as we can, somebody just might take notice. After all, look what happened when the council refused to obey the edict of the National Roads Board to vandalise Wakefield Quay with power poles. The council refused, against pressure, and finally we won out. Why Not Again?

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A piece of spouting and a pot-bellied stove -what a wonderful sight to greet visitors to Nelson (reminds one of Alaska, doesn't it).

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Passengers' exit to aircraft is a tiny, draughty door beside a patched wall

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Passengers huddle round this refuge from a museum while awaiting their aircraft