The second round of community engagement for the future of Wānaka Airport has been completed, with 1,133 online survey responses received, and 87 participants attending sessions in-person.

The high level of engagement, which also included 4,733 project webpage visits, reinforces the community is passionate about the local airport and keen to have input into its future.

Geoff Anderson, Egis Advisory Lead, New Zealand and South Pacific, said: ”The significant volume of responses from the community engagement, and the comprehensive feedback, provides a good base for developing recommendations for the future direction of Wānaka Airport.”

The second phase of the community engagement saw Queenstown Lakes District communities provide feedback on five scenarios:

• Close Wānaka Airport
• General Aviation Airport Only
• General Aviation with Regional Domestic Links
• General Aviation with Domestic Links including Auckland
• Wānaka Airport as an International Airport.

The community also provided feedback on complementary options that could be implemented alongside these five scenarios:

• Complementary Option 1: Community Assets - Wānaka Airport as a more prominent community asset.
• Complementary Option 2: Centre of Excellence - promote aero-related business growth to become a centre of aviation excellence and innovation.
• Complementary Option 3: Employment Hub - promote non-aviation services/businesses at Wānaka Airport.
• Complementary Option 4: Self-Sufficiency - a financially self-sufficient Wānaka Airport.

What happens next?

Egis will continue to review the community engagement responses and data and provide an interim results summary to Queenstown Lakes District Council, ahead of compiling a final report with recommendations for the future of the airport.

The final report will be presented to Council in November, and updates will be shared with the public on the Let’s Talk page at letstalk.qldc.govt.nz/wanaka-airport-future-review.

About Egis

Egis is an international player active in architecture, consulting, construction engineering and mobility services. We create and operate intelligent infrastructures and buildings that respond to the climate emergency and contribute to more balanced, sustainable and resilient territorial development.

Operating in 100 countries, Egis puts the expertise of its 22,000 employees at the service of its clients and develops cutting-edge innovations accessible to all projects. Through its wide range of activities, Egis is a key player in the collective organisation of society and the living environment of citizens all over the world.

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