Publication of lease not enough for group

THE Wanaka Airport lease was made public late yesterday afternoon, but it was ‘‘too little too late’’ for the Wanaka Stakeholders Group (WSG).

Chairman Michael Ross described the release, initiated by Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult, as a ‘‘cynical, election pointscoring move’’ on Mr Boult’s part.

‘‘We have been asking for months for many details which the community should have access to, and the lease is only one of these numerous items,’’ Mr Ross said.

Mr Boult responded by saying the WSG should not be surprised he ordered it released.

‘‘They asked me if I supported the release on September 5.

‘‘I said I did.

‘‘ I have actioned this and occasioned it’s release.

‘‘So in doing so, how can this be cynical?’’

The 100year lease is between the owner of Wanaka Airport — the Queenstown Lakes District Council — and the its majorityowned Queenstown Airport Corporation.

It began on April 1 last year, and shows a rent prepayment of $11,300,000 plus GST and spells out the responsibilities of the QLDC and the QAC.

One section addresses future development of the airport, and gives QAC ‘‘responsibility for all future development of the Wanaka Airport’’, subject to a list of conditions, mostly related to land owned by the QAC adjoining the airport, but also covering what happens towards the end of the lease term.

Another section deals with conditions around any future land purchases required by the QAC for ‘‘core aeronautical activities’’.

Mr Ross said there was ‘‘still a great deal of missing information.

‘‘The mayor should not use release of a single element of the information . . . as some sort of victory for local democracy.

‘‘ It’s actually the opposite of that.

‘‘It shows that he thinks he can keep the public happy by releasing one morsel.’’

Mr Ross said the WSG’s legal team would review the lease but ‘‘in isolation and without details of side agreements, it is close to meaningless’’.

The WSG has threatened to apply to the High Court for a judicial review of the lease, and a member of the group, Mark Sinclair, said the release of the lease ‘‘changes nothing’’ in that respect.