A working party of four Maori Point Road landowners hope a meeting at Tarras this evening (Wednesday July 29) will not only draw more information from Christchurch Airport about its airport plans, but also instigate a much wider conversation about tourism.

Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL) chief executive Malcolm Johns said last week that $45M had been spent on a project to develop a wide body jet capable airport on 750ha of land bordered by State Highways 8, 8A, and Maori Point Road.

The company plans to start with a 2.2-kilometre runway.

Donna Goddard, who owns land on Maori Point Road with her husband, said she was shocked and dismayed when she heard the news. She is now a member of the working group, which has organised the meeting at the Tarras Community Hall at 7pm.

Two CIAL representatives are expected to attend: communications manager Yvonne Densem and project leader Michale Singleton.

The meeting was preceded by an informal get-together of community members on Sunday night where there was unanimous opposition to an airport at Tarras.

A working party of four Maori Point residents is hoping for more information from Christchurch Airport. PHOTO: Wanaka App

The working party is hoping to find out more about the CIAL’s intentions at the meeting. Donna said the airport’s communications have indicated that not having an airport is not an option.

The working party wants to know “all about when, how, and how it’s going to be designed”.

She said the group is also seeking to find out what process will be required to get consent for an airport on the rural zoned land.

“In this case we have another council [Christchurch City Council] coming into the CODC [Central Otago District Council] area. I don’t believe the CODC or ORC [Otago Regional Council] truly understand how this process will go.”

CIAL is owned 75 per cent by the Christchurch City Council and 25 per cent by the New Zealand government.

Sunday’s get-together also revealed that Tarras residents want to instigate a wider conversation about tourism and its implications.

“I think the general mood of the community when we got together is this is not about Tarras - this is a bigger issue for the South Island.

“At the end of the day we will accept whatever happens as long as there is national discussion about what we’re doing, about airports in the South Island, what we’re doing about having a sustainable approach to tourism, and about our national commitment to carbon emissions.”

“There is a bunch of intelligent, widely skilled people in this area, and we understand the concept of greater good,” she said, adding they are not sure CIAL’s plans are for the greater good.

The Wanaka Stakeholders Group (WSG) is also calling for New Zealand to “take stock” of what the country wants before it commits to more airports. 

WSG released a statement on Tuesday evening (July 28) saying “it’s time for a serious rethink about mass tourism and our future, not a time for building airports”.

“In the wake of COVID-19 and the likely long term impacts on international travel, this is a time to take stock, review and reconsider the effects of mass tourism on New Zealand, and particularly Central Otago. Another international airport will only supercharge the problems Queenstown, Wanaka, Tekapo and other tourism hotspots were experiencing pre-Covid. Surely we should start by examining what our national tourism policy should be?”

Members of the community are welcome to take part in tonight’s meeting, which will take place at 7pm at the Tarras Community Hall.