Views sought on future of airstrip
How the Glenorchy airstrip operates is about to come under the spotlight.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council is consulting on a draft Glenorchy Airstrip Reserve Management Plan 2025 which outlines how the council will manage the airstrip on behalf of users and the Glenorchy community.
The council's principal parks planner Jeannie Galavazi urged anyone with an interest in local aviation, airstrip users and the wider community, especially those based in the Glenorchy area, to read the plan and share their views in a submission.
''The existing plan was adopted in 2016. Since this time, QLDC has worked alongside the community and local operators to implement new management processes and make improvements at the airstrip,'' she said in a statement.
''We now need a more future focused plan that is aligned with the Resource Management Act noise contour that became operative in 2021 and the community's long-term needs,'' Mrs Galavazi said.
The draft plan has been guided by initial feedback from the Glenorchy community and stakeholders, including commercial operators and others in the aviation industry.
The airstrip was established in 1953 to service the Glenorchy area.
Significant community consultation on the use of the airstrip has occurred since the land was vested in the district council.
Commercial use is controlled through leases and licences.
There is only one commercial lease in place at the reserve, held by Action Helicopters for two helipads and associated storage containers.
Action Helicopters is the only operator that uses the airstrip and the Glenorchy township as a permanent base, and it accounts for approximately 67% of the total annual aircraft movements.
A commercial skydiving operator was previously based at the airstrip but has since relocated and now only does the occasional training flight.
Commercial skydiving is not supported by the majority of the Glenorchy community. Noise generated from skydiving was particularly annoying as planes fly right over the township and out to Blanket Bay, the draft plan says.
The maximum limit set for aircraft movements is 5400 movements or 2200 flights.
In 2024 there were 2662 movements (1331 flights) with commercial operators, including itinerant operators, accounting for about 95% of the total flights.
Funding and user charges, carbon and noise emissions and governance are among the policies included in the draft.
Submissions on the draft plan close on August 8, with hearings set for later in the month.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsroom
3 hours ago
- Newsroom
The slippery question of how to define a wetland
Analysis: By deciding pasture-based wetlands are wetlands, the Government's resource management changes give convenience to farmers at the expense of infrastructure. The change in definition comes as part of sweeping reform of the Resource Management Act, and is a windfall for industry groups who have struggled to operate within protections set by the previous Labour government.
Otago Daily Times
4 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Growth and the environment
As if we needed reminding. The government reinforced its emphasis on growth by releasing three discussion documents, which cover 12 national policy statements and national environmental standards. The aim is to have 16 new or updated statements and standards in place by the end of this year, well ahead of legislation to replace the Resource Management Act. They would underpin both the RMA and its replacement. The consultation covers infrastructure and development, the primary sector and freshwater. It opened at the end of last week and runs until July 27. The scope is vast, leaving much to digest and react to. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop described the changes as both complex and technical, but also essential. The government claims its balanced approach represents the biggest change in national policy statement direction. The present regime was a "direct contributor to infrastructure deficits, driving up costs and slowing down projects". The measures would help "unclog the arteries of the economy". However, others see these changes as an assault on the environment and a win for the wish lists of lobbyists, such as farmers and miners. Freshwater will be a fierce battleground, and the government is consulting on options. After feedback, specific proposals will be released for further submissions. The government plans to "rebalance" Te Mana o te Wai, while Act New Zealand would like it scrapped altogether. Te Mana o te Wai placed the health of waterways as the priority, followed by drinking water, with economics and social matters secondary. New objectives propose that councils should "safeguard the life-supporting capacity of freshwater and the health of people and communities, while enabling communities to provide for their social, cultural and economic well-being, including productive economic opportunities". In other words, neither priority is ranked above the other. Councils would also be required "to consider the pace and cost of change, and who bears the cost". The government, occasionally correctly, claims that practical realities were sometimes ignored when previous standards were applied. Yet, strong action is vital to reverse the degradation of wetlands, lakes, rivers and aquifers. There are also loosened provisions for vegetable growers and water storage. The definition of wetlands is "clarified". It is claimed that the costs were disproportionate to the benefits, with fencing requirements for non-intensive grazing a notable example. In some cases, dilution is the solution. Consenting for quarrying and mining and clean energy projects would be streamlined, described as "cutting red tape and not corners". Commercial forestry changes may lead to slash mobilisation plan assessments, although questions have been raised about their enforcement. Granny flats of up to 70sq m would be allowed without consent in specific zones, and rules for housing on Māori land would be made more consistent and accessible. Consultation on housing direction as a whole is expected soon. Of course, the government claims environmental protections are important and will be retained. Rightly, there is scepticism. The devil lurks within a hell of a lot of detail across the standards. They will each need to be carefully and fairly scrutinised, although the results will inevitably fall short of satisfying competing views and interests. It has become clear that the narrow majority of Otago Regional councillors were quixotic when they fought on for their land and water plan. The government was always going to change the rules, and they should have accepted that sooner. National regional council representatives this week expressed frustration at policy swings. They are on the front line of RMA (and any replacements). They seek greater certainty and bipartisan agreement, as substantial changes bring upheaval and expense. The RMA itself was a bipartisan measure, once a pioneering piece of legislation internationally. However, it became more complex and criticised from all quarters. National promptly discarded Labour's 2023 RMA replacement. Lasting and consistent laws and standards built on practical environmental protection would necessitate major compromises. Yet, such a consensus is increasingly unlikely as National and Labour move further apart.
Scoop
12 hours ago
- Scoop
Fresh Drinking Water Upgrades Flow Into Queenstown, Fernhill, And Sunshine Bay
Installation of a permanent UV treatment plant at the Two Mile Water intake just down from Fernhill is complete, further upgrading the drinking water supplied to Queenstown, Fernhill, and Sunshine Bay residents. Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) General Manager Property & Infrastructure, Tony Avery said the new solution meant drinking water in the area would remain fresh, safe, and fully compliant with the latest regulatory standards. 'We're fortunate to have high quality drinking water sources in our district but treatment is still required to ensure water supplied to homes and businesses is safe at all times,' said Mr Avery. 'Permanent treatment equipment operating at the Two Mile intake means we can continue treating this water to a high standard, and redeploy the temporary solution installed at the Fernhill reservoir in 2023 elsewhere in the district.' While installing the new UV treatment facility down by the shores of Lake Whakatipu, crews also constructed additional building space to house future pre-UV filtration equipment, as planned for in QLDC's Long Term Plan 2024-2034. A date is yet to be confirmed for the pre-UV filtration, but once operating, it is expected to further improve drinking water supplies in the area by removing lake algae (Lindavia Intermedia) from the water supply while protecting the new UV treatment equipment in the process. Mr Avery added most water sources in the district are treated through a combination of ultraviolet (UV) disinfection and chlorination, and that Council has been busy working to ensure its remaining treatment plants achieved compliance with Taumata Arowai's standards (Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules 2022). 'Completion of the new solution at Two Mile is just one of many projects we have been progressing to safeguard drinking water quality across the district. Upgrades were recently completed for Glenorchy and multiple Wānaka sites, and we'll be kicking off upgrades for Luggate's water source later this year,' said Mr Avery. Work at the Two Mile water intake was carried out by Fulton Hogan, with assistance from Veolia and Filtec.
