The consultation will run through to September 15, with a focus of future needs for the airport.
The results of the first round of consultation gives a mixed view of the current operation of the airport.
Many did not want more planes landing at the airport, pointing to over-tourism while others felt there should be more connections with other centres which would avoid having to travel to Queenstown Airport.
The report from the first consultation was presented to a Queenstown Lakes District Council workshop last week.
The airport is owned by the council and Queenstown Airport Corporation manages Wānaka Airport’s day-to-day operations on behalf of the council.
There were 261 responses to the first round of consultation.
When classified into four different options the most popular was people liking the airport as it is.
It was about a quarter ahead of it becoming a domestic airport.
There was very weak support for either closing the airport or aiming to become an international airport.
The strengths of the current airport was its location and the terrain made for world-class gliding and flight training.
The current general aviation system worked very well with 50,000 annual movements.
The small airport made for ease of access for users and less noise and lower costs for local ratepayers.
Events such as Warbirds over Wanaka and the Nasa balloon launch brought prestige to the town.
Businesses at the airport provided local jobs.
But there were weaknesses such as the airport not covering costs and being subsidised by ratepayers.
Costs for airport users have increased and there was a lack of vision and no recent master plan.
The road entry to the airport was seen as hazardous.
Opportunities such as flights to the main centres and having a large, mostly unused land holding were seen as opportunities.
But threats were over-tourism and a management from the council and Queenstown Airport which appeared to be disconnected from the users.
Costs were rising quickly which showed with Sounds Air pulling its Wānaka service.
Stakeholder discussions gave thoughts on various options.
A new airport such as Tarras should be considered.
Other groups did not support jets.
Consultants Egis said the second round of consultation scenarios on the future uses of the airport would be put to the community, stakeholders and representative groups.
A report back to the council is scheduled for after October.
