Airport forecast worries councillors
Potential 3.2 million arrivals in 2025
A FORECAST that Queenstown Airport could almost double its passenger numbers within eight years has some councillors breaking out in a cold sweat.
Queenstown Airport Corporation presented its draft Statement Of Intent 201820 to Queenstown Lakes District Council this week.
The council is its main shareholder, owning 75%.
‘‘Our demand forecasts predict that annual passenger numbers have the potential to increase from 1.8 million in 2017 to 3.2 million by 2025 . . . ’’ it reads.
Crs Alexa Forbes and Ella Lawton raised concerns.
Cr Forbes said: ‘‘We know of the major transport problems Queenstown has and when we see predicted figures . . . how are we going to move those people?
‘‘What immediately occurs to us is the massive and growing volume of rental cars.
‘‘The SOI doesn’t appear to address this threat to our community, and I think we have to see it as that.’’
Cr Forbes said congestion was such a threat, it could make Queenstown Airport a strategic asset to other communities.
‘‘As people decide not to drive into Queenstown.’’
Queenstown Airport chief executive Colin Keel said infrastructure concerns are addressed in the 30year master plan, due to be published in June.
‘‘A couple of points around the growth,’’ Mr Keel said. ‘‘That is potential growth. It doesn’t just happen to you.
‘‘It is showing an opportunity but whether we as a whole decide to take it is another question.’’
Mr Keel said the community had faced that trajectory of growth before.
‘‘If you looked back 10 years, we’ve certainly more than doubled.’’
He said it will be critical to work with Queenstown’s Transport Governance Group on transport options.
There is a major push to improve public transport on the resort’s congested roads, something Mayor Jim Boult believes might help Queenstown absorb more visitors.
Queenstown Airport Corporation chairman John Gilks said the SOI clearly identified infrastructure as an issue.
‘‘And we’re already doing a lot in that regard,’’ Mr Gilks said.
‘‘We will do whatever we can to assist in the infrastructure development needed but we can’t take it as our prime responsibility, we can’t fix it alone.’’
The airport is New Zealand’s fourthbusiest and its busiest helicopter port. Private jets, both long and short haul, are also a growing market.
The SOI also outlines an $86 million capital investment over the next three years, allowing for a parallel taxiway so more flights can land.
But QAC is locked in a sixyear legal battle with local landowner Remarkables Park Ltd, over land it says is needed for the taxiway to be built.
Cr Lawton said: ‘‘I picked up two young German hitchhikers on the way here.
‘‘They said they think the locals don’t like the tourists because there’s too many of us.
‘‘So in terms of destination management and the point around killing the golden goose, it’s apparent to our visitors already.
The draft SOI was approved by councillors.
paul.taylor@scene.co.nz