Delegates from the group behind the proposed airport in Tarras presented to the Central Otago District Council this morning, and were met by a strong delegation of student protestors who also presented their argument to councillors. 

Christchurch International Airport Ltd, the organisation behind the proposed development in the tiny Central Otago town, presented an update on their plans to councillors. 

The organisation announced in July that it had bought the land and intended to build an airport there to unlock the nearby Queenstown and Wanaka tourism market. 

Before the Christchurch Airport delegates had a chance to present, a group of high school students from Dunedin addressed the Council. 

It was a strange but fascinating situation which involved people from across the South Island - Dunedin students protesting against a Christchurch organisation which plans to develop an airport in the Central Otago town of Tarras. 

“We are here to protest against the Christchurch Airport development in Tarras,” the students said. 

“Claiming this airport will be sustainable is just corporate propaganda.

“The Government has declared a climate emergency, and this proposed development would render the Government’s claim a fictitious statement.

“It’s appalling that a bunch of 16-year-olds have to come all the way to Alexandra to oppose this. 

“The project, and the dangers of it, is tragic.” 

The group held a banner aloft during the presentations, which read “For the people, not the 1%”.

The students said they wanted more focus on “slow tourism” with a domestic tourist focus, rather than cash-grabbing for the overseas market which COVID-19 has proven fleeting. 

“We don’t want any more profit-driven destruction of our home,” they said. 

“Take what we have said as inspiration, and take it forward, for we shouldn’t have to be here again.”

The Christchurch Airport delegates then presented to Council, and said they “were at base camp” in regards to the development’s planning. 

Their presentation and report was solely to provide an update to Council on its plans, with no proposal put forward as of yet. 

Project Manager Michael Singleton said the project is at the very beginning but has been in the works for the past two years. 

He said the earliest they could foresee the airport built is 2030-2034.

“Any future for us is out in the 20 or 30-year horizon,” he said. 

“We promised we would be back in Central Otago to regularly discuss and that is what we are doing. 

“Dealing with this respectfully is our goal.”

Michael said the development in Tarras is the first time an airport had been proposed for the area but set outside of the Queenstown Lakes District Council boundary. 

“This is a challenge which is not new,” he said. “Queenstown has had a number of goes at this, but this is the first proposal set outside of that district.” 

“One thing we have reflected on is your values and the values of your region,” Michael said to councillors. 

“We have a number of values we operate with, and I think they will resonate and match with yours (the CODC’s).” 

Christchurch Airport’s Tarras project manager Michael Singleton (left, centre) and General Manager of Strategy and Sustainability Rhys Boswell (right, centre) present to the Central Otago District councillors.

Michael listed “make a difference", "pride", "ambition" and "safe” as the four values of his organisation. 

Two major factors of the development Michael wanted to point out was the desire to “make a difference and deliver long term economic and social opportunities for the current future generations”, as well as “take into account what’s important for the community”. 

He said the organisation has been talking to a lot of people in the community and has had some very positive interactions. 

Michael admitted there were some who did not want to speak to him or anyone from Christchurch Airport. 

He said he wanted to “talk with the community, not to the community”. 

“Not everyone has chosen to meet with us,” he said. “It’s right for me to acknowledge the goodwill of the people. Some of whom have let me into their homes to chat at their kitchen tables.” 

Christchurch General Manager of Strategy and Sustainability Rhys Boswell said “we do believe airports can form an important part of a lower emission future for the South Island”. 

He said the future of the aviation industry will include more energy efficient aircraft as technology becomes more advanced. 

His response was to a query put to him by Maniototo ward councillor Stu Duncan, who asked as to the future sustainability and energy efficiency of airports. 

“Airports which have unconstrained capacity are more efficient than those with constraints,” Rhys answered. “As it avoids aircraft circling to wait, which uses up energy in the air or even on the ground as they wait for their clearance.” 

Rhys said on-site energy generation is desirable for the airport development, so it would not rely on external providers or the energy infrastructure which is currently in place, which is owned and maintained by Aurora Energy. 

The land, which is already owned by Christchurch Airport, will continue to be used as farmland until the project is ready for build, Michael said. 

Councillors asked about any possible flight paths over Cromwell, and Rhys said anybody who may be under a flightpath will be consulted early in the planning process. 

Mayor Tim Cadogan thanked all who came to present and reiterated the councillors were not making any decisions as no proposal was put forward, just a report. 

Deputy mayor Neil Gillespie said “there’s nothing here today for us to consider in terms of a proposal from a regulatory point of view”. 

Last week, climate activists pretended to die in front of Christchurch city councillors as they joined Tarras residents to oppose a planned Central Otago airport. 

Christchurch Airport is 75 percent owned by the Christchurch City Council's holding company, of which some councillors, including the mayor, sit on the board.