Wanaka Airport User Group chairman Simon Spencer-Bower and Wanaka Airport Management Committee chairman Leigh Overton told commissioners Bob Batty and Stephen Chiles yesterday Queenstown's airport was "almost running to capacity" and proactive management of Wanaka's airport and open spaces was needed.
"I urge the council to look at the big picture. Put in place all the things that need to be put in place to protect it. Don't be like other places in the world and let buildings all around it and then have to shut it down," Mr Spencer-Bower said.
The commissioners are considering changes to land-use designations and district plan regulations that govern Wanaka Airport. Aircraft noise, a runway extension and building heights are among the issues.
Cr Overton said there was no economic justification for large-scale airport development in the next 20 years, but the longer-term future should not be overlooked during the present plan-change process.
"In my experience as a councillor, I am aware that Queenstown Airport faces significant constraints to expansion. It is my view that we should take a lesson from this experience.
Queenstown is a great comparison as Wanaka is experiencing a similar, somewhat delayed growth. The urban area of Queenstown swelled and expanded around the airport site, which was well away from the original Queenstown town.
Wanaka town is growing towards the airport, for instance, with the recent Three Parks plan change. Wanaka Airport is in the advantageous position of currently being reasonably unconstrained by the surrounding land uses. The [changes] seek to preserve this situation," Cr Overton said.
Mr Batty noted the majority of Wanaka Airport movements were by general aviation companies, not scheduled airlines, and he sought clarification of forecast increases in passenger services to Wanaka and the relationship between the two airports.
The commissioners also questioned whether the airport committee had done enough to remove obstacles for scheduled services. For example, it had not obtained certification and had not asked Wanaka Skydive to find another operating site, Mr Chiles said.
In reply, Cr Overton said the airports would be complementary. Wanaka could be an alternative landing option if Queenstown was fog-bound or suffered from some other restriction.
Certification had not happened as planned last year because a charter operator withdrew, but the process could be reactivated on demand.
Land had been bought to provide for a terminal.
The skydiving company would not be asked to move in the short term, but the committee would create a plan for managing future change, Cr Overton said.
Both men stressed general aviation needed to be protected.
There was plenty of room for scheduled operators and general aviation companies to work alongside each other, and Wanaka had the advantage that one day it could be able to do more than Queenstown, Mr Spencer-Bower said.
"We are waiting for a catalyst. No-one wants to build a big hotel because there are not enough flights coming in. Airlines don't want to put extra flights on because there is no big hotel here. It is a catch-22 situation.
"But even in the situation we have here at the moment, we have lots of tourists coming in. We might be a few percentages down but Wanaka is continuing to grow," Mr Spencer-Bower said.
Wanaka Airport plan changes
The proposed Wanaka Airport plan changes will provide for:
• A runway extension and runway end safety area (total of 2300 x 150m).
• New passenger terminal and control tower.
• More car parks, roads and ancillary buildings.
• Redesignation of 132.9ha for aerodrome purposes.
• Noise management and control programme within defined noise boundaries.
• Compliance with Civil Aviation rules regarding building heights and hazards in navigable airspaces.
• Avoidance of reverse sensitivity issues.
Hearing timetable
Evidence yesterday from Simon Spencer-Bower (Wanaka Airport Users Group), Cr Leigh Overton (Wanaka Airport Management Committee), Iain Munro (consultant, Airbiz Aviation Strategies Ltd), David Park (consultant, Astral Ltd)
Evidence today: Jonathan Ashford (transport engineer, ViaStrada), Leigh Stock (president Wanaka Chamber of Commerce), Aaron and Nicki Heath (airport neighbours), Air New Zealand, Pittaway Family Trust.
Evidence tomorrow: Jerry Bell (airport neighbour).
