A commercial helicopter operator has lodged applications for resource consents to land on 16 sites within the Queenstown Lakes district.
Aspiring Helicopters Ltd, of Wanaka, has applied to Lakes Environmental for the sites, mostly on land administered by the Department of Conservation.
The proposed sites include Cameron Flat, North Motatapu Conservation Area, Mt Alta Conservation Area, Treble Cone ski area, Mt Aspiring Station, Hawea Conservation Park, Remarkables Conservation Area and Minaret Station.
Aspiring has applied for 2750 landings a year at the 16 sites.
The application said the company wanted to land at the sites to give visitors access to remote areas of the district.
Planner Tim Walsh said the sites were existing landing sites used by the commercial operator.
The council decided more than 18 months ago that consents would be needed for operators on Doc land, privately owned land and pastoral land.
