The upgrade of Nelson Airport is continuing with the removal of the old Hangar 3 to make room for new and improved airport infrastructure.
Built by the RNZAF in 1941, Hangar 3 has largely sat idle for the last seven years and is taking up space needed for new airport facilities.
The hangar was most recently used for flying by Helicopters New Zealand from the 1960s until 2014 and its last significant activity was accommodating the construction of the large roof trusses used in the new airport terminal.
“While it’s sad to see the old building go, it had very much come to the end of its useable life,” says Nelson Airport chief executive Mark Thompson.
“Hangar 3’s removal means Nelson Airport can provide new modern facilities critical to the future safety and efficient operations of the airfield. With limited space and growing demands on infrastructure, it is critical that we make the best use of what we have and continue with our plans to make Nelson Airport an asset the region can be really proud of.
“The Hangar 3 site is earmarked for a modern Rescue Fire Centre, that will house the newly acquired Rosenbaur Panther fire truck, and future hangar developments. Removal will commence on October 21, 2021, and will involve recovering as much of the material used in its construction as possible.”
Asbestos in the cladding, soffits and vinyl will be safely removed before other demolition begins. Native timbers, including rimu, will be recycled for furniture production, the roofing iron will be reused and recycled while other metals will be salvaged for scrap.
It is expected that construction on the planned new facilities will get underway next year, however, with the challenges brought on by the pandemic we are taking a realistically flexible approach to such timeframes,” says Mark.
