19 Sep 2019

Wanaka airport debate takes off

3:34 pm on 19 September 2019

The debate over the Wanaka airport development is heating up as the region's residents set their sights on legal action.

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Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton

A residents group representing 3000 people has filed a judicial review against Wanaka airport to return it to full public ownership.

Wanaka Stakeholders Group chair Michael Ross said the group was disappointed to be forced into the position to take the step.

"Nobody wants to take legal action like this," said Mr Ross.

"The Upper Clutha community is deeply frustrated with the lack of transparency, absence of proper community consultation and wafer thin information provided by our local Council and the QAC. We are deeply concerned at what they appear to be planning, and they are just not listening to what the community is saying."

Mr Ross said the group had been asking both Queenstown Lakes District Council and QAC for details relating to Wanaka Airport for many months, and that they had been stonewalled.

He declined to discuss the details of the group's legal case, which will be filed within the next few days.