Most submissions on Queenstown Airport Corporation's (QAC) noise-boundary plan change oppose extending noise boundaries and the airport's operating hours.
Forty submissions were received, 33 in opposition, six in support and one neutral.
Plan change 35 proposes to extend noise boundaries in all directions to allow for the airport's projected growth through to 2037.
If the change is approved, the airport's operating hours, which begin at 6am, will be extended by two hours to midnight.
The plan change has been out for public consultation.
Submissions closed last Friday.
Many submissions are from Frankton residents concerned about noise and night-time flying.
Robertson St resident Elizabeth Leogr-Herig said she opposed all the proposals.
"To have aeroplanes come into Queenstown until midnight is a nightmarish thought. [I] have need to relax and sleep without being subjected to any more noise at all . . .
"Nobody wants to buy a house in a noisy environment.
"The value of our property will decrease, for sure," she said. Johannes Diederich Nieveen said it was unreasonable to expect Frankton residents to live with more noise.
Kelvin Heights resident Irene Adamson said the airport had outlived its "use by time" at Frankton.
"Planning should start immediately for construction of a new airport on a safer site," she said.
Housing New Zealand also opposed the change because noise mitigating measures would have to be borne by residents.
"QAC is not sufficiently remedying its adverse effects by expecting owners of existing and long-standing residential properties in a residential zone to bear the cost of the adverse effects that QAC is creating," it said in its submission.
Remarkables Park and Shotover Park Ltd also opposed the plan.
"It is not promoting sustainable management.
"Restrictions on adjoining landowners are not necessary for the safe or efficient function of the airport," the companies' joint submission said.
The supporting submitters included QAC and Lake Hayes Estate Ltd.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council supported the plan change but called for more detail on compensation for residents and noise monitoring requirements.
Air New Zealand partially supported the change but said more cost and benefit analysis was needed.
It also said in its submission it did not intend to operate night flights at present, but "night take-offs might at some point be considered".
The Ministry of Education was neutral in its submission but noted the opportunity of new school sites would be reduced in the area.
The corporation held a public open day, which attracted about 80 people; met residential groups; completed mail drops to more than 2000 residents; and held individual discussions with several residents before it lodged the plan change with the Queenstown Lakes District Council last year.
Up to 80 houses are expected to fall into the night-time noise boundary and the air noise boundary, the two closest boundaries to the airport.
The corporation has said it would pay to install acoustic insulation up to an acceptable standard in living and sleeping areas.
Corporation chief executive Steve Sanderson said the cost of insulation for the mix of houses was difficult to estimate and each house would be assessed individually if the proposal was approved.
Council's senior policy analyst Karen Page said the plan change would be renotified for further submissions for two weeks.
"I'm hoping to do this by the end of March.
"The hearing probably won't be until the middle of the year, at the earliest," she said.
