Three independent commissioners have adjourned the hearing of the Queenstown Airport Corporation's proposal to extend its noise boundaries and operating hours.
Commissioners Bob Batty, David Clarke and Stephen Chiles, after hearing evidence from 12 submitters over six days, are seeking more detail from the airport corporation on its noise mitigation and management plans.
Mr Batty said the hearing would have to reconvene, possibly in September, to hear further evidence from the corporation.
The council's senior policy analyst, Karen Page, was highly critical of the proposals, and recommended night flights be rejected.
Of 92 submissions, 24 supported, eight partly supported, and 60 opposed the proposal.
The corporation wants to expand the noise boundaries and permit night flights to arrive in Queenstown between 10pm and midnight, allowing for tourism growth to 2037.
The corporation's acoustic consultant, Chris Day, said the corporation would pay to install sound insulation and ventilation on houses within the new boundaries as noise levels increased.
Thirty-seven houses within the night noise boundary would be insulated first, he said.
New residential development should not be allowed within the new boundaries, he said.
Aviation consultant David Park told the hearing the airport would be installing runway and taxi lighting by the end of the year to make way for night flying.
Hazard beacons would be required on Jones Hill, Deer Park Heights and the Remarkables.
He said night flying would be allowed only for aircraft equipped with Required Navigation Performance and subject to stringent risk assessment by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Independent research consultant Gregory Akehurst told the commissioners allowing night flights to arrive in Queenstown would boost the Otago economy by $39.4 million a year and create employment for 665 workers.
Ministry of Health environmental acoustics adviser Vernon Goodwin said Public Health South was concerned about the location and extent of the new night noise boundary.
Stricter noise limits should be imposed on aircraft testing engines at the airport and QAC should pay for stricter monitoring, he said.
Frankton residents Don Wallace, Mervyn Gillick, Denis Mander and Charlene Kowalski made submissions about the effect of the increase noise on their neighbourhood and sleep patterns.
Lawyer Warwick Goldsmith, on behalf of Jacks Point Ltd, said the company supported the airport's plans.
"Expansion of the airport is essential for growth and the economic prosperity of the community," he said.
Lawyer John Young, on behalf of Frankton landowners Remarkables Park Ltd and Shotover Park Ltd, said the corporation's proposal lacked information and its mitigation measures were vague.
Air New Zealand Ltd's counsel Liz Hardacre said the company did not oppose night flights, but did not intend to fly the two hours' proposed extension to the operating hours.
There was no market for the additional two-hour period, she said.
The company supported the plan change's intention to provide for future development, but it was concerned the airport would pass on the cost of insulating neighbouring houses, through increased landing charges or departure taxes.
