There’s not much Michael Ross doesn’t know about local government in Otago and Southland. So how did this former council chief executive find himself on the other side of the fence, lobbying Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) and the Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) at the helm of the Wanaka Stakeholders Group? 

Michael grew up in Oamaru and started his career working as an accountant. While living in Queenstown, he became a board member of the Queenstown Promotion Board because of his interest in tourism. He managed to persuade QLDC to introduce rate-based funding for the Queenstown Promotion Board. This success raised his profile locally so that when the role of deputy general manager at QLDC came up, Michael’s application was successful. 

This was the start of a long and varied career in local government. Michael laughingly describes himself as “the most recycled chief executive in Otago/Southland local government”. 

Michael served at QLDC from 1989 to 1995, looking after the Wanaka Community Board because of his close family ties to Wanaka. 

He was then appointed chief executive to the Clutha District Council, where he spent five years before moving to Southland District Council for another four years, also as chief executive. After this, he moved to Oamaru to serve as chief executive of Waitaki District Council, where he remained until his retirement from local government in 2017. 

During this time, as Michael moved from place to place for work, the one constant in his life was Wanaka. Michael’s family have owned property here for 52 years, and Michael remembers childhood holidays at Glendhu Bay even before that. 

“My dad eventually got sick of camping and bought a section,” Michael said. “I love Wanaka to bits - I’ve always wanted to be here but struggled to find suitable employment in the area.” So, one way and another, it seemed a natural choice for Michael to retire to Wanaka. 

Thus far, Michael’s retirement has been a busy time. Like many people in Wanaka and the surrounding area, Michael was concerned about plans for developing Queenstown Airport. A year ago, a small group of people started getting together to discuss concerns around the airport. In particular, at that time there was a public consultation around plans to increase the air noise boundary of Queenstown Airport.

The fledgling Wanaka group made a submission to council on the air noise boundary, in support of the Queenstown Stakeholders Group. The noise boundary consultation process attracted 1500 submissions, 92.5 per cent of which were opposed to any change to the air noise boundary in Queenstown.

Then on October 2, 2018, QAC’s CEO announced that there would be no further moves to increase the air noise boundary of Queenstown Airport, and that the focus would now shift to developing the Wanaka Airport Masterplan.

“That’s what really got us [the Wanaka Stakeholders Group] started,” Michael said. “I put my hand up to put a group together, because I felt that my local government background would be helpful.”

The Wanaka Stakeholders Group has now become a more formal entity, with about 2700 members in the Wanaka area. The group is now an incorporated society and has developed its website at www.protectwanaka.nz.

Like many people in the Wanaka area, Michael was concerned that the community had not been consulted on the real extent of what was planned for Wanaka airport. 

“There was a consultation process back in 2016 to 2017, but it was all about leasing the airport. The possibility of commercial jet services arriving in Wanaka was not fully discussed with the community back then,” he said. 

After this consultation, QLDC issued a long-term lease on Wanaka Airport to the QAC. At the time, council undertook to retain ultimate control of the airport through mechanisms contained in the lease and via QAC’s Statement of Intent process.

Michael said that despite numerous requests, he and the group have been unable to view details of the lease, so they can’t be sure it actually does stipulate that QLDC will retain ultimate control of the airport.

“Wanaka Airport is a community asset that’s being taken away from the community,” Michael said. “There hasn’t been a transparent and open process - this community has not been consulted on the real extent of what was really planned.”

Michael added that Wanaka is a community that cares a lot about the future of the area. “The reality is that when we set up a stand in the main street, people walk up and say ‘where can I sign?’ We don’t even have to explain what we’re lobbying for - everyone is now aware of the issue. ” 

A criticism recently levelled at the Wanaka Stakeholders Group is that it doesn’t represent the interests of local businesses. Michael refuted this claim, adding that among the 2,750 members of WSG, about 500 identified themselves as being local business owners.  

Michael estimates that his work for WSG takes up about 10 to 20 hours a week. Outside of this, he is a keen golfer and also enjoys the other outdoor pursuits that Wanaka is famous for: mountain biking, skiing and boating. Michael and his wife Susie have three adult daughters and are currently enjoying a visit from their first grandchild. 

PHOTO: Supplied