Since 1 April 2005, Gisborne Airport is being managed and operated by Eastland Infrastructure Limited, a commercially and customer focused Gisborne based organisation. Eastland Infrastructure was established in September 2003 to meet the management needs of two existing operating companies, Eastland Network Limited and Eastland Port Limited, both of who are owned by the Eastland Community Trust.
Eastland Infrastructure Limited was formed as a management and operational services company. However, with the acquisition of the Gisborne Airport business, which operates as a division of Eastland Infrastructure, it has become a profit centre.
The rationale for the formation of Eastland Infrastructure included three primary objectives:
To provide synergy benefits from having one management structure overseeing, what were previously, separately owned and managed entities.
To provide the ability to recruit and retain a greater level of organisational competence to better position the operational companies to meet their strategic objectives.
To establish a vehicle to pursue business opportunities on behalf of Eastland Community Trust, the shareholder.
It is Eastland Infrastructure long-term vision is to grow shareholder value and facilitate regional prosperity through prudent investment in infrastructure and related activities.
The initial management contract, with Gisborne District Council, is based on a 15-year lease agreement with the option to extend for a further 15 years. Eastland Infrastructure pay Gisborne District Council an annual rental fee indexed to passenger numbers and is accountable for all capital investment. It bears all risk associated with the airports profitability, eliminating the need for ratepayer subsidy.
Over the next five years, Eastland Infrastructure is planning on making significant investment in the airport, maintaining and upgrading its existing assets and expanding its capabilities to encourage more passenger and cargo volume.
For further information on Eastland Infrastructure Limited, click here to go directly to the website.
