Major parties in an environment court hearing on Queenstown airport noise boundaries were yesterday warned by judge Jane Borthwick to "draw a line in the sand" or face court costs.
The visiting Christchurch judge was visibly frustrated when, after a two-day adjournment granted on Monday, the parties were unable to present a document outlining a settlement.
Several of the parties met privately this week to try to reach a settlement regarding the airport's noise control boundary, but had not presented a final document to the court yesterday.
The parties included the Queenstown Lakes District Council, the Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC), Air New Zealand, Remarkables Park Ltd (RPL), Shotover Park Ltd, the Ministry of Education, and the smaller appellant Wakatipu Residents Against Airport Noise Incorporated.
The hearing was to discuss an amendment to the existing air noise boundaries and associated district plan provisions to allow for projected airport growth through to 2037 and a forecast 2 million airline movements per year.
Judge Borthwick said she was "concerned" about the time it had taken to reach the final format and questioned each party on when they would have their written settlements.
"Had we got this memorandum last week we wouldn't be here.
"I'm not criticising you, I am concerned for you," she said to lawyer Tony Ray, of Macalister Todd Phillips Law, who was representing the council.
Mr Ray said he had spoken to two of the parties during the adjournment, stated the council's stance and was confident once they had seen the final version of all party settlements, they would take two hours to "run through it".
"The changes that are to be introduced are not that significant. There are three or four changes we suggested and are still awaiting RPL's proposals. We do not have a detailed statement from them yet, but we do not have any concerns with it."
Lawyer John Young representing RPL and Shotover Country Ltd said they were "comfortable" with provisions and there were still some "minor matters" to be dealt with.
"From RPL's perspective the district plans are sorted."
Judge Borthwick urged the parties to have a settled district plan, a noise management plan and an aerodrome plan to her by 4pm yesterday or the hearing would be adjourned until Monday.
"I have to warn you though, if we face this on Monday, parties will face court costs.
"Our preference is to see the plan once there is a line in the sand."
Lawyer Revell Buckham, representing Wakatipu Residents Against Airport Noise Incorporated, said it was likely the group would withdraw from proceedings after seeing the documents.
"We are finalising the draft, certainly by tomorrow I will be seeking to withdraw."
QAC representative Amanda Dewar, of Lane Neave lawyers, said they had "reached an agreement in principal" and the parties had "all agreed on the provisions of the plan".
"As far as the airport is concerned we didn't expect the process to go so long."
"We've got to put a line in the sand and say this is what's agreed and this is what's not agreed."
By the 4pm deadline, Ms Dewar had submitted six documents on behalf of all parties outlining all of the agreed amendments.
