That is the view of the Wanaka Stakeholders Group which is calling on the Queenstown Lakes District Council to arrange an independent survey.
In a letter to the council this week, the group's convener Michael Ross said the council had taken "no action" to engage with the Upper Clutha community "despite numerous requests to do so".
The letter was sent on behalf of the Hawea, Albert Town and Luggate Community Associations and the Mt Barker and Hidden Hills Residents' Associations.
Mr Ross said the group's recent informal social media poll of 1200 people showed 90% of respondents believed the district council should conduct a survey.
He pointed out the consultation being carried out by the Queenstown Airport Corporation over its proposed "dual-airport" arrangement for Queenstown and Wanaka Airports did not include a "formal and independent" process allowing the district council to make a "fair and informed" decision.
The council is the corporation's majority shareholder, and Mr Ross pointed out the long term plan referred to Wanaka Airport remaining "under community control" to ensure it continued to make decisions in the best interests of the district.
"We completely agree with this, and this is why it is crucial that QLDC engages with the community and does not delegate all such requests to QAC," Mr Ross said.
"How can you know our views if there is no public discussion, public debate or communication with us?"
The corporation is working on a master plan for the Wanaka Airport, prompted by expansion constraints at Queenstown Airport and projections of big increases in passenger numbers.
Mr Ross said the corporation's recent statement of intent recorded its change in strategic direction, referring to a "dual airport" several times and describing Wanaka Airport as being part of a "national network of critical infrastructure assets".
"This significant and deliberate change in language signals a dramatically upscaled future for Wanaka Airport."
Mr Ross said the survey should be carried out before the council adopted the airport corporation's statement of intent.
A council spokesman said yesterday he could not say when it would respond to the group's letter.
