Pilots call for meeting as water situation stagnates

The Newcastle Airport still does not have any running water, and residents who have to make use of the facilities there, are quite simply, fed up.

According to one of the pilots, the municipality has now been contacted and asked for a meeting, to discuss issues surrounding the airport, water being one of them.

Sources said the tender for the waterpipe had been awarded to an unknown company late last year, allegedly for an unconfirmed amount close to R1-million. Other sources also confirmed local companies had quoted as little as R300 000 for the same job.

To date, work has not commenced on the pipeline, while pilots alleged the municipality had promised to have system installed by mid February.

During the State of the Town and Budget address, the Mayor Afzul Rehman, stated that the current administration remained determined to have a sustainable flight schedule between Newcastle and major cities.

“In 2014/2015, we will be upgrading our airport with a further R1.5-million while we will address the issue of water in the current financial year,” said Cllr Rehman.

The pilots eagerly await response from the municipality regarding the requested meeting, and hope to find an amicable solution to the problem.