A major Queenstown developer also told independent commissioners Christine Kelly and Trevor Shiels that his company supported the bid by Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) to build a 90m long and wide Resa (runway end safety area) for the benefit of New Zealand's entire tourism industry.
Residents Avi Yochay and Bob Britton individually objected to Old School Rd being used by haulage trucks.
Mr Yochay said he did not oppose the Resa submission but was concerned about the noise and dust caused by more gravel extraction trucks along the west bank of the river and sought mitigation.
Mr Britton lives on the east side of the river and said his household had been disturbed, sometimes until 3am, by empty trucks along the access track.
He said the track should be sealed or maintained to mitigate noise.
Solicitor Russell Ibbotson said his client, Quail Rise Estate Ltd, supported the Resa proposal in principle, but the Shotover Delta Access Track should not be used as a haulage route until it was sealed and the intersection at Tucker Beach Rd was upgraded to a safe standard.
It was the three commercial users' responsibility to seal the track, he said.
Traffic consultant Murray Fletcher said fill material for the Resa would most likely come from the Shotover River delta or from Five Mile or QAC land.
Old School Rd, Spence Rd, Glenda Dr and Tucker Beach Rd would not be used by fill haulage trucks, but Tucker Beach Rd would be used for the removal of surplus existing fill and delivery of rip rap if required.
Acoustic engineer Peter Ibbotson said the project would mean more trucks on access roads, but the noise effects would be "no more than minor", subject to a condition that access roads be kept free of potholes, which was acceptable to QAC.
Landscape architect Don Miskell said proposed native mitigation planting would ensure the gradient fill would appear in character with rest of the terrace and would not damage natural landscape values.
Queenstown property developer Warwick Goldsmith spoke on behalf of Peninsula Road Ltd, a company associated with Melview Developments Ltd, Kawarau Falls Station and Five Mile Ltd, which is in receivership.
Mr Goldsmith said the airport was a "vital part of Queenstown's infrastructure and a matter of national importance" to the tourism industry.
Five Mile was comfortable with the use of adjacent Grant Rd for fill haulage trucks, he said.
"Queenstown's economic prosperity and future growth is integrally related to the airport. On that basis, and accepting there are some environmental details to look at, we're here saying the submission is extremely important to everybody who lives here."
