The Marlborough District Council is delivering on promises of improvements to Blenheim Airport, after taking over the running of it from Port Marlborough last year.
Changes to the facility's carparking will get underway this month after the wine festival, to be completed in time for the air show at Easter.
Mayor Alistair Sowman said this would involve using some land from the adjoining golf course to double the number of carparks available. The airport presently has about 130 carparks.
The current rental car parking space would be shifted to the new area, with its vacant space being used for short-term parking.
"We just want to tidy up all the access and parking and drop-off points. That was always the issue of the public - the ability to find a park when you drop off people."
Tenders have closed for the construction work, with the contractor to be decided in about a week. The work will be funded from income taken through existing airport parking.
Other work would also be "looked at after we have finished the parking if we have any money left," said Mr Sowman.
Council support services manager Dean Heiford said this could include upgrades to the airport's terminal and better security in the form of gates, fences and other devices.
Mr Sowman said the council had to be "mindful" of investing too much money into the airport, which never made a significant profit.
"We are mindful of the potential of larger numbers to be coming in with large aircraft. We know at times the terminals are busy but we have not quite reached the point where we have to do additions."
However, "It's a gateway to the province and we are very keen to have a good, functioning airport."
The council was reviewing parking fees, which would be raised slightly to fund future developments if necessary.
Port Marlborough operated the airport until July last year, when it became a subsidiary of council-owner MDC Holdings Ltd because it was not making a significant commercial return.
Source: The Marlborough Express
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