The airport’s draft statement of expectations (SOE) — through which its shareholders, the council and Auckland International Airport made clear its expectations for the company for the year — will be discussed by the full council at its meeting on Thursday in Queenstown.
Listed under the advantages of the SOE were that it provided a chance for the shareholders to agree on expectations, and offered transparency to the community.
Under disadvantages, however, the council’s covering report said the SOE "may be perceived to be inadequate by some members of the public who consistently do not support elements of the SOE or [statement of intent]".
Under Wanaka and Queenstown Airports, the draft SOE said while Queenstown Airport’s statement of intent would focus on Queenstown, both airports remained critical assets that collectively offered a lifeline for the district’s recovery, post-Covid.
"QLDC will want to see QAC protect the value and operational priority of Queenstown Airport in the context of the proposed international airport at Tarras," the SOE said.
Shareholders also wanted "certainty" Queenstown Airport operations would remain within its existing air noise boundaries for the next decade, and wanted an annual dividend payment by the end of the next financial year.
Regarding the statement of intent, the council sought for it to include clear objectives and pathways for delivery and clear reporting against measurable performance targets.
"We expect to see more detailed, measurable KPIs [key performance indicators] with [explicit] deliverables and timeframes.
"Notably, council is keen for QAC to demonstrate that locals and visitors alike have a high quality experience of travel through the airport."
The council also reinforced its expectation the airport would seek feedback from it and Auckland Airport before community consultation on its draft masterplan, which must align with outcomes of the council’s spatial plan and others, such as the destination management plan.
That master plan must be endorsed by full council in the next year, after community feedback had been sought.
There was also a heavy focus in the statement of expectations regarding sustainability and a reduction of the airport’s carbon footprint.
