The report — entitled "Queenstown — future as an alpine city?" — contains futuristic illustrations of a "smart city" of high-rise buildings, fountains and green spaces with a focus on "sustainability and environmental best practice urban design".
It predicts a Queenstown city of 75,000 within 50 years and the city centre on the Frankton Flats now occupied by the airport.
The report will be presented to today’s meeting of the Queenstown Lakes District Council, and Flightpath 2050 member John Hilhorst said the group will ask the council to consider it alongside several other airport-related reports.
Mr Hilhorst said that council consultant MartinJenkins suggested in its recent report the idea of a new airport "should not be cast aside.
"It looks to be the most viable option."
However, MartinJenkins had not examined the potential uses for the Frankton land left vacant, Mr Hilhorst said.
"We’re filling in the gaps.
"The actual benefits of moving the airport haven’t been investigated at all.
"They are profound benefits."
The group is also preparing two more reports, one of which will cover alternative airport sites in the Cromwell-Tarras area.
Mr Hilhorst said there were five sites that would "meet the viability criteria", one hour from Queenstown and less than an hour from Alexandra, Cromwell and Wanaka.
When released in late July, the report would not contain the specifics of the locations "simply because that’s a can of worms".
Mr Hilhorst said the group was working for the community "pro bono", and ran the risk of having its work "sidelined" by the council as a result.
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"It predicts a Queenstown city of 75,000 within 50 years"...Based on what? Tourism?!
I fail to see Queenstown ever being a 'hotbed' of economic activity apart from pulling in tourists from overseas....The businesses in this area have long ago priced themselves out of reach of ordinary Kiwis, it is exceptionally expensive to even live there, and given the long term damage done by Covid 19, I can't see the future of this town being very bright, at all.
Lesson learned from and the ongoing issues related to, COVID 19 will require a 'green rebound' as we bounce back. The obsession with economic growth (75k by 2050) is not the answer. A simpler, less consumer driven future will be more sustainable. A new airport will not be required when we all live a modest and uncomplicated life where the freedom to fly international will be severely curtailed.