The council has until a week today to supply a required aeronautical study to the Civil Aviation Authority after it flagged "operational risk" at the airport.
It is due to be considered at tomorrow’s district council meeting.
A staff report for the meeting tomorrow includes several recommendations to beef up the aerodrome’s facilities.
They include an immediate $120,000 spend to provide taxiways, and to agree to a change in aero-communications requirements from the common frequency zone to a mandatory broadcasting zone.
But in the medium term, significant other expenditure is required.
This includes a $1.3 million project already in the council’s long-term plan to cap the sealed runway in 2025-26, and an indicative $800,000 through the next plan to replace the runway and taxiway lighting in 2026-27.
Council infrastructure manager Joshua Rendell, in his report for tomorrow’s meeting, points out the "non-certified, unattended airport" is experiencing steady growth.
It had 42,690 aircraft movements in 2023 but at least 60,000 aircraft movements are anticipated this year — an increase of just over 40%.
In line with that there had been "an increase in reported incidents" which had brought the airport to the attention of the CAA.
"The CAA required the council to provide an aeronautical study that assessed the risk and current health and safety protocols in place", Mr Rendell said.
"It require the council to consider and give attention to the safety risks."
The unattended airport does not have commercial scheduled passenger or freight services.
But it hosts a mix of commercial and recreational operators including a helicopter company, a flight training school, the North Otago Aero Club and private hangers.
"The commercial users and the local aero club contribute to most of the movements at the airport", Mr Rendell said.
"The rapid increase in traffic density and the frequency and change in the type of aircraft operations has resulted in increased operational risk as highlighted by an increase in reported occurances."
As a result, the Civil Aviation Authority had requested an aeronautical study "to assess safety practices" at the airport.
The resulting study with six "safety-enhancing" recommendations had the support of the airport users, Mr Rendell said.
They are:
— Employ or contract an aerodrome manager.
— Create taxiways alongside each runway.
— Undertake maintenance on the main runway, runway lighting and markings.
— Change the aero communications broadcasting zone to a safer frequency.
— Consider removing two of the training areas to reduce conflict with approaching flights.
— Review fees and charges.
