An increase in operational capacity at Wanaka Airport is being sought by the Queenstown Lakes District Council as it moves to push through a plan change and resource consents.
The district council recently lodged two notice of requirements to alter existing resource consent designations at the airport, with planning authority Lakes Environmental.
The alterations to the airport's designation are part of the council's overarching plan change 26 to "safeguard the future use and operation of the Wanaka Airport".
The district council wants to ensure it can address future growth projections at the airport by amending planning controls at the ratepayer-owned asset.
Plan change 26 proposes to extend existing noise boundaries at the airport, introduce a night-time noise boundary, and also introduce new controls to protect the airport from "reverse-sensitivity effects".
The plan change will effectively prescribe the activities which neighbouring landowners should expect at an expanding airport.
The notice of requirements, to be considered at a yet to be scheduled plan change public hearing, seek to increase operational capacities at the airport.
Provisions being sought by the district council include allowance for increasing the airport's runway(s), taxiways, new hangars, dedicated helicopter "aprons" and associated touch-down or lift-off areas.
A new passenger terminal and control tower, increased car parks, rental car company facilities, and extra capacity for tourism operators, are also all being sought via the plan change and consent amendments.
The council also wants to extend existing noise boundaries by up to 6km and restrictions might be placed on future developments, such as building heights, within that boundary to ensure airspace safetySubmissions are being sought by the district council on the plan change and the notice of requirements, until February 18.
