‘A world-class airport at an appropriate scale’

• Published date: 25 May 2023
• Publication title: Mountain Scene

The draft plan, guiding infrastructure improvements over the next decade, was released for public consultation yesterday

Key projects include relocating general aviation — helicopters will be consolidated north of the runway and fixed-wing aircraft in a new precinct south of it — and constructing a new parallel taxiway to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.

An ‘‘engineered materials arresting system’’, or EMAS, is also planned at each end of the runway, which will, essentially, catch a plane were it to over-run.

Sowry says that system’s in use in airports around the world and, to date, has been used about 40 times, without a single loss of life or aircraft.

He says it was once described to him like a ‘‘creme brulee’’ — it has a hard outer crust, with soft internal material, designed to capture and disperse the aircraft’s energy, and slowly stop the plane.

Also planned are a terminal extension, an extra aircraft parking stand and prioritisation of active travel and public transport links, including a new ‘‘green link’’ connecting the airport terminal to cycle trails and a proposed ferry jetty on Lake Whakatipu.

Sowry: ‘‘I think when you boil it down, it is an absolute reflection of the 10-year strategic plan that we came up with, which was being very reflective of what we’d heard from the community and key stakeholders, so I think the masterplan brings that to life in a practical and physical sense.

‘‘It’s actually a plan that I think is really strong and I would like to think, and hope, that it will be well-received by the community.

‘‘We’re really keen to hear what the community has to say...