The man behind a proposal to bring float planes to Lake Wakatipu said he understood people were concerned about potential noise levels, but believed it "could only present an issue for 20-25 seconds".
Earlier this month, the Otago Daily Times reported Brent Collins, a New Zealand-born commercial pilot living in Africa, had applied for resource consent for a commercial float plane operation on Lake Wakatipu, primarily running tourist flights between Queenstown and Glenorchy.
The application, which has been publicly notified, also seeks to have a floating pontoon erected on the Queenstown Gardens side of Queenstown Bay, utilising water taxis as a shuttle between Queenstown and the pontoon.
Originally from Blenheim, Mr Collins (38) said he had dreamed of operating a tourism float plane business in Queenstown for the past six years.
The proposal was mooted in the ODT in 2009.
The application sought consent for a refurbished 1950s seven-seater De Havilland Beaver plane and a modern Cessna float plane, although only one would be operational initially.
After passengers had been loaded on to the float plane, it would taxi - creating "less noise than a jet-boat in the bay" - to its "air strip" about 1.2km away from the mooring, more than 800m south of the tip of the Queenstown Gardens peninsula.
A similar strip would be located at Glenorchy, "suitably far off shore to prevent any noise issues".
Mr Collins had also applied for occasional landings and takeoffs on Lakes Wanaka and Hawea and in Frankton Arm.
If successful, Mr Collins said he hoped to have the operation up and running by summer's end.
However, Panorama Tce resident Laurel Parent had since formed the "Opposition to Float Plane Runway in Queenstown Bay" group and was encouraging residents to make submissions on the proposal.
Mr Collins said he was aware of the group, but asked people to consider the application carefully.
"Float planes are part of alpine and lake tourism environments the world over and add something pretty special to a waterfront and to the visitor experience.
"I would ask that people read the application thoroughly because we've put a lot of work in to ensure our activity adds to the vibrancy of the waterfront without causing disruption or congestion.
"Generally, people are supportive.
"The feeling is that a float plane has something to add to the bay - especially a historic plane with potential for future links to other historic transport such as TSS Earnslaw and Kingston Flyer.
"However, we do understand people's primary concern is about potential noise levels.
"We believe this could only present an issue for 20-25 seconds during takeoff, which we have fully mitigated by locating our takeoff area more than a kilometre from town.
"I strongly believe these planes are well suited to this environment in terms of noise and that people will not be adversely affected," Mr Collins said.
The noise generated by the float planes was within the guidelines of the district plan and flight plans did not take planes over the town or populated areas.
While there was no float plane operation on Lake Wakatipu at the moment, Mr Collins said the proposed mooring near the gardens used to be home to a tourist float plane, while another had historically operated from the Frankton beach area.
Submissions on the proposal close on September 29.
