Report on airport alliance out soon

Aircraft parked at busy Queenstown Airport. Photo supplied.
Aircraft parked at busy Queenstown Airport. Photo supplied.
The long-awaited PricewaterhouseCoopers report into the controversial strategic alliance between Queenstown and Auckland Airports is due to be released.

Queenstown Lakes District Council corporate and regulatory services general manager Roger Taylor told the Otago Daily Times the 80-page draft report had been approved.

"I have asked for it to be finalised. I want to get it released."

The report was commissioned late last year.

Its scheduled release was delayed then there was another delay, caused by the Christchurch earthquake in February.

Mr Taylor said the delay had not affected the proposed community consultation, which would not form the basis of any decision-making by the council.

"Obviously, we haven't engaged in the public consultation process at this stage.

"What was proposed to happen was always an information process - providing information on what has happened.

"It's still the case that we'll be doing that. There is no plan [for consultation] beyond that initial stage."

Under the deal, Queenstown Airport Corporation created and sold a 24.99% new shareholding to Auckland International Airport Ltd for $27.7 million, announced publicly last July.

Auckland has until June 30 to increase its shareholding to between 30% and 35%.

It has not yet lodged any application with the council to do so.

The matter is now before the High Court, with both Air New Zealand and the Queenstown Community Strategic Asset Group lodging separate, but related applications last August.

Both parties are seeking an injunction to stop any further share issue and a judicial review.

The hearing, which has been scheduled for May, was due to be heard in the High Court at Christchurch, but could have to be moved because of the earthquake.

Mr Taylor said the council had been told the Christchurch Registry of the High Court was being operated from Wellington.

"But they could schedule the hearing to be in ... Invercargill, Dunedin, Auckland or Wellington."

 

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