Queenstown Lakes district councillors voted to grant a long-term lease and management arrangement for the Wanaka Airport to the QAC at a full council meeting in Lake Hawea yesterday.
A review was carried out last year which identified five options for the future governance of the airport.
The council’s preferred governance option was to enter into a long-term lease and management arrangement with the QAC, which is a council-controlled trading organisation.
The council has a 75.01% stake in the company and Auckland Airport owns the remaining shares.
As part of the arrangement Wanaka would be a complementary and supplementary airport to Queenstown International Airport.
During the consultation process concerns were raised by the airport’s recreational users and businesses who worried they could be negatively impacted by potential changes made by the QAC.
Rent increases and a preferance for commercial over private operators were some of the main concerns.
Several councillors made it clear during the meeting, the interests of the Wanaka community and the current users needed to be protected under the new agreement.
Wanaka Councillor Ross McRobie said there needed to be a very strong statement of intent protecting the interests of the current recreational and commercial users of the airport.
‘‘I would like to see those strengthened and ensure they are in the document,’’ Cr McRobie said.
Deputy mayor Calum MacLeod said as the majority shareholder in the QAC, the council was able to use it’s influence to ensure the community’s and the current users.
‘‘The general feeling I get from people is it’s the right thing to do but it comes down to making sure we get the detail right in the statement of intent.’’
Mayor Jim Boult said QAC said it wanted to build on what was already at the airport and make it a greater asset for the entire district.
Ultimately, the council had the final word on any changes and was able to use its position as the majority shareholder to make sure the QAC’s board was acting in the best interest of the community, he said.
Mr Boult and council chief executive Mike Theelen will negotiate the lease with the QAC.
Arrowtown Councillor Scott Stevens wanted the lease to protect the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow, which was something ‘‘special and unique’’.
In a statement made after the decision QAC chairman John Gilks said the decision to grant a long term was a ‘‘momentous’’ occasion for the future of the region.
