The management of the Glenorchy airstrip is under review, and the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) is keen to hear views on the facility.
The council is responsible for managing Glenorchy Airstrip, a small aerodrome situated just south of the township, on the banks of Lake Wakatipu.
QLDC is now reviewing the Glenorchy Airstrip Reserve Management Plan 2016 (RMP), a document prepared under the Reserves Act 1977 that outlines how it will manage the airstrip for users and the Glenorchy community.
The purpose of this plan is to maintain the aerodrome to an appropriate standard for emergency and low-intensity community, recreational and commercial tourism aviation activities.
To help inform future changes to the RMP, QLDC community services general manager Kenneth Bailey encouraged airstrip users and the wider community, especially those based in the Glenorchy area, to share their insights and suggestions.
"As a first step in the review process we’re seeking informal feedback through an online survey. We want to hear what people think about how the facility should continue to operate, be maintained, developed and managed in the future," Mr Bailey said.
The existing RMP was adopted in 2016. Since then the use of the airstrip has changed, and a limit on flights and a noise contour have been added to the District Plan Designation that authorises the take-off and landing of all aircraft. A noise contour sets a maximum ‘‘bucket’’ of noise that is allowed from use of the airstrip.
QLDC has been working with the Glenorchy Airstrip consultative governance committee to develop the survey. The committee has representatives from the Glenorchy Community Association, neighbouring landowners, operators and the council.
Feedback closes at 5pm on September 18.
The revised plan will then be publicly notified inviting formal submissions in late 2023, to be followed by a public hearing.
