A sixth commercial helicopter operator has applied for landing resource consent around the Lakes district and another operator has applied for "retrospective" landing consents on land administered by the Department of Conservation.
Over The Top Helicopters Ltd lodged 46 applications to land and take off from individual sites on rural zoned land at Lakes Environmental on July 7.
The sites included Kawarau Bungy Bridge, Remarkables car park, Coronet Peak, Ben Lomond, Skippers Canyon, Humboldts, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak.
The Helicopter Line Ltd applied for 21 retrospective consents at Doc sites on July 1.
The sites included Goldfield Heights, Bowen Peak, Gorge Creek, Mt Sale, Whare Kea Lodge, Lake Isobel, plus Bryant, Grant and Clarke glaciers.
Aspiring Helicopters Ltd, of Wanaka, applied for landing consent on 23 Doc sites last month.
Wakatipu area office community relations manager John Roberts said Over The Top had a concession to land and take off at designated sites administered by Doc, along with the other helicopter operators.
The conditions, numbers and locations differed and depended on where their business interest was, he said.
"We take the position that as long as the applicant wants the same as they have in the Doc concession, the same numbers and activity, we would give affect-ed party approval," Mr Roberts said.
"However, the department's position is that resource consent should not be granted if they don't already have a concession with us, because it has not gone through our process."
Mr Roberts said Doc was working with Lakes Environmental to ensure consistency across the helicopter consent process.
The department was trying to promote the idea that consents should not disadvantage any existing holders from exercising their concession, he said.
Helicopters Queenstown Ltd, Heliworks Ltd and Alpine Choppers Ltd are the other helicopter operators which have lodged applications with Lakes Environmental since February.
Eighty-five landing consents have been granted by Lakes Environmental so far.
