More local input needed on airport's future: lobby group

Otago Daily Times

a day ago

The Queenstown Lakes District Council is working on a master plan for Wānaka Airport. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
A lobby group is worried local input on the future of Wanaka Airport will be non-existent.
Last week about 30-40 locals attended an independently run consultation session.
The consultation is being led by French engineering firm Egis on behalf of the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Wānaka Stakeholders Group has launched its own proposal for the airport, advocating for local governance.
Chairwoman Meg Taylor stressed low numbers and feedback meant the council would go ahead and do what it wanted.
She said the community was not informed the sessions were taking place. "It was very casual and not catching a lot of people.
"I would like to see better governance, in the long term, and until that happens we have these ad-hoc engagements with the community and they are not particularly satisfactory."
Wānaka Airport is owned by the council and operated by Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) under a management services agreement.
Last year the council signalled its intent to develop a long-term plan for the airport.
The stakeholder group is pushing for a plan that reflects the interests of the entire Upper Clutha region, emphasising community involvement in governance, management, accountability, and investment decisions.
Ms Taylor said it was important for Wanaka locals to have a role in the decision-making process.
"What we want is Wānaka people to make that decision and that is why it comes down to governance and who runs it.
"There is going to be ongoing decisions about growth, this town is growing," she said.
"A more localised board, making the airport accountable for local people and ensuring there is transparency — nobody has seen financials for the past five years."
The group is opposed to jet aircraft flying in and out of Wānaka.
Meanwhile Queenstown Airport's manager of sustainability and corporate affairs Sarah Irvine said jetliner travel was not on the governing body's radar.
"Our strategy is 100% not that."
Ms Irvine said while the Queenstown Airport was not involved with community consultations, the airport understood the importance of feedback from the community due to mistakes made in the past.
The stakeholder group said the governance format was wrong and the airport should be solely run by locals, rather than tied in with the larger international airport over the hill.
Ms Irvine said the experience of those in Queenstown could help.
"The benefit is you have the fourth busiest airport in the country lending expertise.
"We have an extensive team and there is benefit in seasoned operators lending help to the Wanaka Airport."
In a statement, Egis said:
"Both sessions were well-attended, with an engaged local community participating and contributing actively.
"The interactive sessions allowed the community to have their say on the issues that mattered most to them, such as feedback on travel, community lifestyle values, and their vision and preferred outcomes for the regional airport."
Wānaka Upper Clutha Community Board chairman Simon Telfer said everyone should get involved in the feedback.
"There have been many ideas already, including supporting general aviation, increasing scheduled flights, allowing broader commercial activity and better preparing for natural disaster resilience."
When the consultation rounds are finished a review will be written to explore the airport's long-term role, its economic impact and its integration into New Zealand's broader aeronautical network.
Following the first round of engagement, Egis will develop several possible scenarios for the airport.
There will then be a second round of engagement in early August.