Wellywood, or won’t they?
WELLINGTON International Airport seems determined to erect its controversial Wellywood sign on the hills above Miramar despite a request from Wellington City Council to reconsider the sign.
The council passed a motion last week asking the airport to reconsider its decision to erect the sign but the airport has yet to respond to the council’s request. Airport spokesperson, Kat Lintott told Capital Times the airport would be getting back to the council and the public in the next few days but she confirmed surveying the land for the 3.5 metre high letters commenced this week.
Lintott says the sign has yet to be constructed. However a source has told Capital Times the sign has been completed as one piece and is ready to be lifted into place on the hillside by crane.
So far strong opposition to the sign has not swayed the airport. Chief Executive Officer, Steve Fitzgerald, says the airport has listened to the range of views and would continue to do so.
“We are concerned by some of the comments being made in the media and on social media sites regarding the sign,” Fitzgerald says.
It was Wellington Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown who moved the motion in council requesting a rethink by the airport. Wade-Brown is concerned the sign may undo much of the good reputation Wellington has built up over the years as a political and cultural centre and has questioned whether an airport has the right to brand a city.
“Many, many Wellingtonians have sent a very clear message that they don’t like this project. It would simply be wrong to ignore the level of opposition we have witnessed,” Wade-Brown says.
The council passed a motion last week asking the airport to reconsider its decision to erect the sign but the airport has yet to respond to the council’s request. Airport spokesperson, Kat Lintott told Capital Times the airport would be getting back to the council and the public in the next few days but she confirmed surveying the land for the 3.5 metre high letters commenced this week.
Lintott says the sign has yet to be constructed. However a source has told Capital Times the sign has been completed as one piece and is ready to be lifted into place on the hillside by crane.
So far strong opposition to the sign has not swayed the airport. Chief Executive Officer, Steve Fitzgerald, says the airport has listened to the range of views and would continue to do so.
“We are concerned by some of the comments being made in the media and on social media sites regarding the sign,” Fitzgerald says.
It was Wellington Mayor, Celia Wade-Brown who moved the motion in council requesting a rethink by the airport. Wade-Brown is concerned the sign may undo much of the good reputation Wellington has built up over the years as a political and cultural centre and has questioned whether an airport has the right to brand a city.
“Many, many Wellingtonians have sent a very clear message that they don’t like this project. It would simply be wrong to ignore the level of opposition we have witnessed,” Wade-Brown says.
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