The Environment Court this week allowed Queenstown Lakes District Council's Plan Change 35, more than eight years after the proposed changes were first publicly notified. The changes were sought to amend existing noise boundaries and allow for airport growth.
The plan change was initially appealed by Air New Zealand, Remarkables Park Ltd, Shotover Park, Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) and Wakatipu Residents Against Air Noise Inc.
The residents' group later withdrew from proceedings.
Three interim decisions were released in 2012 and 2013. The matter had since been held up by various appeals, but a final decision was released on Wednesday.
Council planning and development general manager Tony Avery said it had been a "long, long process" to get to the end of the saga.
- Daisy Hudson
