Public say over the future of Wānaka Airport is set to close this week and recommendations will be made by a private consultation group.
The community and stakeholders are being asked whether the airport should: close, be general aviation only, have regional domestic links, domestic links including Auckland or add on international flights.
This second round of community engagement ends on Thursday.
French consultancy company Egis was contracted by the Queenstown Lakes District Council to gather independent feedback.
Egis extended the timeline of the review, adding a second consultation period.
Kerr Forbes, aviation lead for Egis in Australia and New Zealand, said "we’ve heard clearly from the community that they value this opportunity to be involved, and they want more time to contribute".
In June, the Wānaka Stakeholders Group launched its own proposal for the airport, advocating for a development model centred on strong local input.
Group chairwoman Meg Taylor said the council was proceeding with a "dual process" — an application for qualifying aerodrome certification and a Wānaka Airport future review, both to be completed by 2027.
Ms Taylor said the council was asking the Upper Clutha community what it wanted to happen at the airport, but risked pre-determining that outcome.
In June, Sounds Air announced it would be cutting its Wānaka to Christchurch service, highlighting the need for change at the airport.
The Egis survey given to stakeholders and public at the consultations gave options on how the airport could develop.
These included; using Wānaka Airport as a more prominent community asset, promoting aero-related business growth to become a centre of aviation excellence and innovation, promoting non-aviation services and businesses at Wānaka Airport, or having the airport as a financially self-sufficient business. — Allied Media
