thst Oct - 6rd 31 27 Jan - 3th Nov Feb 2017 2014
FIRST ON THE STREET
No No 434 624
LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN
1 J IN O 18 SI BS D E
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Airport needs destination infrastructure to expand with it Nothing beats floating through the magnificent Southern Alps above the vast network of turquoise waterways before touchdown into Queenstown. While the natural beauty of the decent will always be breathtaking, the landing is set to evolve over the next few decades. The Government might have changed but the pressure on Queenstown to grow and fuel New Zealand’s tourism industry remains the same. The Queenstown Airport is in the midst of developing their 30-year Master Plan to accommodate for the continued growth of tourism and population in the Otago region. In their planning, the airport has taken many factors into consideration including the projected population growth from the current 34,000 residents in the wider Queenstown Lakes District to 60,000+, and an increased number of visitors from 18,000 to 32,000 on an average day, to over 100,000 on a peak day. If you think traffic, accommodation rates, parking, etc. are bad now, consider how these elements will be impacted by a doubled population size and tourism increases. Regional infrastructure will need to keep pace with the forecasted growth if Queenstown is to remain a desirable place to live/travel. With these numbers in mind, the airport is now considering either (1) expanding the existing terminal, (2) building a new terminal to the north, or (3) building a new terminal to the south. Over the past two months, the Queenstown Airport has been holding public sessions to garner feedback on the 30-year Master Plan, as well as an online survey. The airport’s communication team needs the community’s opinions, concerns and suggestions to incorporate into their planning. Queenstowners: there will be no excuse to gripe about the on-going development of the airport if you opted out of participating in these community sessions and surveys.
The Luma Light Festival was the supreme winner at the Trustpower Community Awards. Pictured are Trustpowers’ Alice Boyd, Luma Chairman Duncan Forsyth, Mayor Jim Boult and Daniel Green from Luma. (Photo: Jodi Walters)
As the airport expands, the district and regional councils need to follow suit in order to make room for regional growth in a tasteful, sustainable way. The $2 bus is a step in the right direction. Affordable public transportation will be a game changer for Queenstown – it will lead to fewer cars on the road, less impact on parking, and lower rents by allowing housing further out from town centre. A long-term, collaborative master plan for the Queenstown Lakes District will be crucial for the sake of visitors and residents alike. Expansion and development won’t ruin Queenstown, but lack of infrastructure will. It’s not too late to have your say. Jump online to find out more and complete the survey – open until 30 November at www.queenstownairport.co.nz/Masterplan Guest editorial Haley Turner
www.qac.co.nz
FRIGHT NIGHT - TUESDAY 31
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JOHN RAVENS WEATHER Last week John was 98% correct
RENTAL PROPERTIES
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Fine and Warm. Light Winds
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