The plan change and new land-use designations were publicly notified in December last year. Independent commissioners Stephen Chiles and Bob Batty, of Christchurch, considered 18 public submissions at a three-day hearing in June.
The Wanaka Airport management committee suggested five changes to the recommendations made by the commissioners, relating to noise control and "terrain shield" restrictions. They were outlined in a report of July 25 to the council by QLDC senior policy analyst Ralph Henderson.
A "terrain shield" is a surveyed and mapped area of land and air space showing where developments could occur on neighbouring land without affecting airport operations.
The commissioners had added a requirement that Wanaka Airport should pay for the preparation of terrain shielding surveys at the request of landowners.
"We saw that as an unnecessary expense for a small airport," airport management committee chairman Leigh Overton said.
The compromise reached at this week's council meeting was that only "site-specific" terrain shield drawings for firm proposals would be paid for.
Mr Overton said the committee had taken a low-risk approach with its amendments to the commissioners' recommendations.
"The options we've taken are most likely to reduce the chance of appeal . . . in making these changes, we've also had that as a consideration."
The changes adopted by the council do not provide for a 2200m runway, as the Wanaka Chamber of Commerce had hoped, but for an extension up to 1750m, as sought by the airport management committee.
Air New Zealand had asked for the runway to remain at 1200m.
The Wanaka Chamber of Commerce called for a much longer runway so the airport could become an international airport, accept night flights from Australia and be an alternative airport to Queenstown should planes need to be diverted.
No evidence of night flight demand was presented by the council or the only airline to make a submission, Air New Zealand, the commissioners said.
Wanaka Chamber of Commerce economic think-tank chairman Alistair King expressed disappointment the council and the commissioners did not take the long-term view submitted by the chamber to future-proof the airport for night flights.
"Any changes in the future will be much more difficult due to sensitivity to airport developments," Mr King said.
"However, plan change 26 and the designations adopted by the council does allow for night flights for Airbus 320s in the future, subject to changes to operation hours, which is at least a step in the right direction."
The chamber was concerned councillors did not voice their position on the airport before the commissioner hearing to allow a "robust discussion with the business community" on the future of the airport.
The chamber would continue to work with the council on the ongoing management, structure and growth of the airport, but would "also look to get further transparency from the council on the subject".
