Securing the long-term future of Wanaka Airport is behind proposed zoning changes recently publicly notified by the Queenstown Lakes District Council, senior policy planner Ralph Henderson says.
Airport chief executive Steve Sanderson said the proposed amendment of the two existing Wanaka Airport designations (plan change 26) were supported by aircraft traffic forecasts for the next 30 years.
The airport's master plan anticipated growth of scheduled operations and the development required to meet the demand.
Mr Henderson said by updating noise provisions to reflect the changing nature of airport use and expanding air-noise-control boundaries - including a night noise boundary - the amendments would help ensure development would not "impinge" on future operations.
Alongside the plan change, the council would be amending Wanaka Airport designation 64 (aerodrome purposes) and designation 65 (approach and land-use controls).
The aerodrome purposes designation regulated activities within the aerodrome and would be extended to include land bought to provide for future runway configurations as required.
The approach and land-use designation sought to ensure the airspace around the airport was safe for aircraft operation by identifying areas which must be kept clear of buildings and obstacles.
The plan change and notices of requirement had been notified at the same time to avoid confusion and, because they were complementary processes, they needed to be considered together.
The submission period has been extended to take into account the holiday period, with submissions now closing on February 18, 2011.
