Nelson Airport is one step closer to extending its runway despite mounting opposition from the local community with one business saying it’s likely to go to the Environment Court.
Nelson Airport today gave notice to the council of the plan to extend the main runway in the next 10-15 years. The plan would move the runway around 370m towards Tāhunanui.
Airport chief executive Brendan Cook, who started in October, said the extension was important for the local economy.
“It’s really important that as we grow naturally in the future and our passenger numbers increase as the population grows and business grows across the region.
“The runway here at Nelson Airport is one of the shortest runways in the world for the aircraft types that operate here.”
He said new aircraft will need longer runways and current aircraft are sometimes weight-restricted. But, the extension would have a big impact on the airport’s neighbours, including the Nelson Golf Course, the Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park and local residents.
1News asked Cook what impact the extension would have on the ability of neighbours to change or develop their properties.
“I’m not an expert in that space. I’m sorry I can’t communicate on what those changes are to those residents,” Cook said, acknowledging it was something he needed to be more across. “That’s more of the homework I need to do as we go through these weeks ahead.”
He said in the past the airport had not communicated as well as it could have with the community and that this was a priority for him.
Tāhuna Beach Holiday Park chief executive David Pattinson said he felt the venue was being left “to wither on a vine”. The holiday park wanted to upgrade its facilities, but that would be very challenging if the extension went ahead as planned, he said.
It would also mean more than 100 long-term residents at the park could face eviction.
“I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen to some of these residents. I fear for them, I really do,” Pattinson said.
He said he wanted to come to a compromise with the airport but said it felt unlikely.
“I have to say the parties are a long way apart. I can see this ending up in the Environment Court, which is madness.”
Meanwhile, Tāhunanui Business and Citizens Association secretary Jude Osborne said residents have been frustrated by the process so far.
While there have been hearings by independent commissioners, the scope was narrow and residents have not felt listened to.
“A lot of people don’t even know what this will mean because no one has taken the time to spell it out to us.”
Osborne said the extension could have a big impact on what residents can and can’t do with their properties.
“It means no intensification so no one could add a a granny flat or even possibly a shed or a sleepout to their property”.
The council is now required to give formal notice of the airport’s decision within 15 working days to submitters, and landowners and occupiers affected by the decision.
