The Queenstown Airport Corporation has called for Queenstown Chamber of Commerce chairman Alastair Porter to "step aside" from chamber deliberations on all matters relating to the airport because of "conflict of interest", and for the chamber to withdraw its "fatally flawed" member survey.
The comments, made in a press release yesterday, drew a quick reaction from the chamber, with its deputy chairman, Queenstown businessman Miles Wilson, telling the Otago Daily Times he was "shocked and dismayed" at the statement, which was "quite wrong and quite insulting".
Mr Wilson said the board received the release at the end of a chamber meeting and was standing by Mr Porter.
"This is getting into a realm of small-town politics that I think is quite unnecessary.
"I would emphasise that all of the board members, when we've met at our various meetings this week, have been absolutely unanimous ..."
Mr Porter told the ODT last night QAC's statement equated to "winning the game by attacking the opponent".
"All I can say is if this is an example of how an alliance between QAC and AIAL will work, to use their strength to bully this town into submission ... I doubt they'll be successful."
In the release, QAC chairman Mark Taylor said Mr Porter's companies - which include Remarkables Park Ltd (RPL) and Shotover Park Ltd (SPL) - owned "significant land holdings around the airport", and the "several ongoing disputes" between the two parties meant Mr Porter had a "clear conflict of interest".
"... we believe Mr Porter has no alternative but to stand down from all chamber deliberations on matters relating to the airport."
"Furthermore, the fatally flawed survey should be abandoned and the chamber should facilitate a more balanced and informed discussion among its membership on this matter," Mr Taylor said.
The chamber board issued a seven-page memorandum on Friday, raising several issues and providing comment, along with a feedback form, seeking chamber members' views on the deal between QAC and AIAL, in which AIAL paid $27.7 million for a 24.99% stake in Queenstown Airport.
Mr Taylor met the chamber board on Monday and "although the chamber undertook to distribute further information to its members to provide a more balanced view on the deal", it was understood nothing had been circulated.
The "clear conflict" was threatening the credibility of the chamber as a commercial advocate for Queenstown and Mr Taylor had "spoken to other chamber members who shared QAC's concerns".
About 20 feedback forms had been received from the chamber's 270 members, with "90%" against issuing further shares to AIAL.
While Mr Porter had been named as a member of the Queenstown Community Strategic Assets Group (QCSAG) formed to oppose the share deal with Auckland Airport, he told the ODT he had never "officially" been a member, but supported the group's views.
Notes from QCSAG spokesman John Martin, who addressed the chamber yesterday, showed Mr Porter was no longer a member.
The group had six new members since releasing its initial statement last Thursday: developer Mike Coburn, director Roger Tompkins, H&J Smith managing director and SBS chairman Acton Smith, businessmen Peter Hanson, Andrew Brinsley and Michael Davies, who is fellow QCSAG member John Davies' brother.
Mr Porter last night would neither confirm nor deny rumours he intends standing for mayor in this year's local body elections.
"It may be a major election issue, but the issue right now is it's a major problem for this town. We need to focus on the transaction and what can be done about it."
Chamber of Commerce chief executive Ann Lockhart said last night the chamber would hold a public meeting to discuss the issue within a fortnight.
