A local anti-airport lobby group says a submission by Christchurch International Airport Limited (CIAL) to the Otago Regional Council (ORC) undermines its engagement with the Tarras community. 

CIAL revealed last year that the company had spent $45M on a project to develop a wide body jet capable airport on 750ha of land near Tarras.

Lobby group Stop Central Otago Airport (SCOA) is one of the groups opposing the proposed airport development. 

It has questioned the CIAL’s recent submission on the ORC’s proposed Otago Regional Policy Statement, which sets the direction for future management of Otago's natural and physical resources.

SCOA claimed the submission had been made with the intention to “largely to water down environmental protections, allow for biodiversity loss and more easily facilitate a major industrial development at Tarras”.

“What’s disappointing is that this was done by Christchurch Airport completely beneath the radar, yet they claim to be engaging with affected communities and being open and transparent. If successful, this move might enable them to push through airport plans which could be irreversible.”

CIAL has refuted the claims, saying it was one of 300 organisations and individuals to make a submission.

“This was an open public consultation process, run by the ORC, we made no attempt to conceal our submission which is on the ORC’s website,” CIAL project director Michael Singleton said.

“To suggest we tried to sway the council and went under the radar is simply incorrect.”

Michael said CIAL often makes submissions on issues and believes it is important that organisations and individuals do so so authorities like ORC can make well informed decisions.

He also said CIAL takes sustainability seriously.

“There is work underway to assess the potential impact an airport on our Tarras site could have on the Central Otago environment. We will share information on that once the study is completed in 2022.”

A SCOA representative said the group now had almost 1,100 members.

PHOTO: Wānaka App