The Informed Leaders group consisting of 79 professors, researchers, and associated professionals has written to Christchurch City councillors offering ‘science-based briefings’ to help inform discussions and decisions about a proposed international airport at Tarras.

The letter follows a public discussion about Christchurch International Airport’s (CIAL) plans for Tarras at the Christchurch City Council’s (CCC) finance and performance committee meeting on May 31. 

CCC owns 75 percent of CIAL, the proponent of the proposed airport at Tarras.

At that meeting, a vote expressing concern at the strategic direction of CIAL’s proposal to continue to progress an airport at Tarras due to the costs and climate change impacts was carried seven votes to six.

“We were pleased to see a robust discussion about Christchurch Airport's plans for Tarras, in public, at your council meeting last week,” Informed Leaders spokesperson James Higham said in the letter to councillors.

“We now feel it is timely, as promised, to write to each councillor to offer objective, science based briefings to help inform your discussions and decision making.”

Informed Leaders wrote to business leaders and politicians in January this year saying the proposed new international airport should not proceed given the available research and data including “significant environmental, social, cultural and economic as well as political and reputational consequences” of failing to reduce carbon emissions by building a new airport during a climate emergency.

James said the briefings will summarise existing science and research by world-leading experts on relevant topics such as aviation technologies, the impact of aviation, climate change, emissions, propulsion systems, and the status of "low carbon aviation".

The group said that any briefings delivered will be independent, not driven by a commercial imperative or interest, and shared openly and transparently with the media and members of the public.

Sustainable Tarras (ST), a group opposed to the Tarras airport project, said it supports greater transparency and engagement by CCC on the proposed airport.

“We are encouraged by CCC seeking more detailed oversight into the business case for Tarras and for taking our concerns seriously,” ST committee member Suze Keith said.

“It is extremely unusual for public organisations to invest upward of $60M [of] ratepayer and taxpayer capital on land, design and consenting costs - when that same organisation has yet to confirm it is a good idea.” 

The CCC meeting also passed a motion requesting that it be briefed on the current position in regards to the Tarras airport proposal, Christchurch International Airport Ltd’s intentions, and planned progression from now, and that council be kept informed throughout the process as it progresses.

On May 30 the Otago Daily Times reported that CIAL had purchased an additional 40 hectares of farmland at Tarras adjacent to the 750 hectares of land it purchased in July 2020.

CIAL revealed plans to develop a jet-capable airport on  land at Tarras in July 2020.

Find out more about the Informed Leaders group here.

PHOTO: Wānaka App