A range of amendments crafted by Wanaka councillor Niamh Shaw to tighten council’s expectations for Wanaka Airport were rejected by the majority of her colleagues at a full Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) meeting yesterday (Thursday January 28).

The SOE for the Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) is an annual document which outlines the council’s expectations for the QAC.

“In my opinion, the issue of our airport infrastructure has suffered many shortfalls of process, governance, quality information and community consultation – and there is still limited visibility as to what the Upper Clutha community (in particular) actually wants for the future of its airport,” Niamh posted on social media prior to the meeting.

Niamh, along with fellow councillor Niki Gladding, proposed amendments which included that management of and planning for Wanaka Airport exclude development of Wanaka Airport to allow narrow-body jets; that management of and planning for Queenstown Airport remain within the existing air noise boundaries; and that any change to these principles be subject to “robust council-led consultation” within the community.

Councillor Niamh Shaw

There was extensive discussion around the proposed amendments at the meeting, some of which were supported by Wanaka councillor Quentin Smith.

None of the amendments were passed, and the proposed SOE was eventually approved. Read it here.

Niamh told the Wanaka App she was disappointed with the outcome, but added: “I feel good that that has been aired and I’m hopeful that what Nikki and I said will influence the SOI.”

“I am aware that the SOE is reviewed on an annual basis and one of the objectives of putting in high level strategic planning principles was a clear and concise statement that the community could check each year in the SOI to see if it had been changed or removed,” she said.

Niamh said it was significant that more than 4,000 people in the district responded to a survey by consultants’ MartinJenkins, asking about the positive and negative impacts associated with airport infrastructure. The MartinJenkins report was released in June.

While her colleagues considered the conditions proposed by the amendments were covered in the draft SOE, Niamh said “I don’t believe that is true”.

The most recent QAC SOI, approved by council in October 2020, stated there was no plan to pursue expansion of Wanaka Airport within the next three years.

PHOTOS: Supplied