Skydive Queenstown Ltd has lodged an objection over the Queenstown Lakes District Council's decision to decline its direct referral to the Environment Court over a change of status for NZone's Jacks Point airfield.
On Monday, the Otago Daily Times reported Skydive Queenstown, the company behind NZone, wanted to change the status of its base from an airstrip to an airport to enable more flights to take place.
Its application attracted 82 submissions - 79 in opposition, two neutral and one in support.
A week after submissions closed, the company asked the council to refer the consent directly to the Environment Court.
Council corporate and regulatory services general manager Roger Taylor provided a report to the Strategy Committee at its meeting in Queenstown on Tuesday "for information only".
Mr Taylor's report said the request for a direct referral was analysed by Lakes Environmental and declined for several reasons, one of which was the large number of submitters - many of whom wished to be heard - who might be excluded from the process if it was first considered by the Environment Court.
Additionally, the letter sent to Skydive's agent barrister, Russell Bartlett, on July 3 said the council's independent commissioners were "well-skilled" despite the complex nature of the application.
"Whilst there may be cost savings to your client under certain circumstances, there is no overall economic advantage in favour of direct referral."
At Tuesday's meeting, Mr Taylor told the committee an objection to the decision had been filed by Skydive Queenstown.
Chairman Leigh Overton said as a consequence there should be no discussion on the issue.
The objection hearing will be heard by commissioner Denis Nugent on July 25.
