Queenstown Airport Master Plan

Context and weight. QAC is a Council Controlled Trading Organisation; QLDC is its majority shareholder and Auckland International Airport the minority shareholder (p56). Engagement on the draft ran from 24 May to 23 June 2023, in partnership with QLDC (p4). Appendix A sets out the airport's District Plan zoning and designations (p58). Appendix B (pp59-60) identifies the regional planning documents 'of most relevance' as context for the plan. These are QLDC's Vision Beyond 2050, 'QLDC's guiding document for decision-making and planning'; the Queenstown Lakes Spatial Plan (Whaiora Grow Well), 'intended to guide decisions and investment across local, regional and central government'; and the Frankton Masterplan 2020 (Figure 21) and Frankton Flats Master Plan, whose preferred programme of transport interventions was endorsed in October 2020 (Figure 22). The Chair and CEO say the plan responds to the Spatial Plan, the outcomes sought by Kāi Tahu and the Frankton Master Plan (p3). These are cited as context; the Master Plan does not adopt them.

Growth and airfield. Between 2023 and 2032 the plan forecasts passenger movements growing from 2.4M to 3.2M, scheduled aircraft movements from 17,900 to 22,112, non-scheduled movements from 36,000 to 43,000, the terminal from 18,000 to 21,000 sqm and aircraft stands from 8 to 9 (p10). That is about 1.6 million arriving passengers by 2032, managed within the existing noise boundaries (pp23-26, 56). Proposed works include EMAS runway-end safety areas, a parallel taxiway, an extra stand and a maintenance stand (p13), and relocating general aviation to new northern and southern precincts (pp14, 43-45). Total potential investment over 10 years is $350 million, funded from working capital and debt with no shareholder contribution (p35).

Land transport and public transport. QAC's Land Transport Strategy prioritises walking, cycling and public transport. QAC aims to be 'the world's most cycle-friendly airport' and to 'encourage, but not force, mode shift' (p36). More than half of airport trips are by private car (2019 data). The target is 18% of trips by active or public transport by 2032, aligned with the regional goal of 30% of district trips by 2045 (p37). In the terminal precinct, a forecourt plaza leads to a public transport hub, cycle hub and rental cars. Public bus stops sit in front of the arrivals hall, with 'an additional bay for a proposed direct Airport-Queenstown express bus' and coach and regional bays (pp47-50). A green link walking and cycling path runs to the proposed Frankton ferry jetty, aligned with the Frankton Master Plan lake link (p48). The 2032 movement plan (Figure 17, p49) shows a QAC Park & Ride, the proposed ferry wharf, the Frankton Public Transport Hub and proposed Frankton Flats roads 'subject to further analysis'. By 2032 the forecourt allocation grows public bus bays from 2 to 3, adds 1 QAC bus/shuttle bay, grows coach bays from 4 to 6 and bicycle spaces from 45 to 300, and grows public parking from 17,400 to 19,100 m2 (Figure 19, p51). The Park & Ride stays behind Mitre 10 until at least 2032, with a possible longer-term site on Hawthorne Drive (p54).

Decarbonisation and electrification. QAC targets net-zero operational emissions by 2028 (pp16, 30). It says it achieved a 65% cut in absolute emissions by 2022-23 and has revised its target to an 85% reduction by 2028 (p30). Its transport actions are to move the company fleet to EVs, electrify the airfield, provide EV charging, support active and public transport for staff, replace the Park & Ride shuttle with an electric vehicle, introduce universal equipment charging for ground handlers, and install power plug-in units for aircraft (p30). It notes heavy future demand for electricity, for example from electrifying aircraft, ground fleet and rental car fleets and generating green hydrogen, and is pursuing solar opportunities (p32).

Future aviation. The plan supports the aviation sector's 2050 net-zero ambition (p32). It covers sustainable aviation fuel: SAF is not yet produced in New Zealand, and IATA estimates 65% of carbon savings will come from SAF (p33). The plan anticipates on-site hydrogen storage and reserves an electric aircraft precinct with a small terminal and charging, expecting such aircraft to operate from the early 2030s (pp34, 44). It also reserves a sustainable aviation area (p44) and earmarks space for eVTOLs in the Northern Aviation Precinct (p34). It sees opportunities for a 'renewable energy transport hub' for public, visitor and heavy transport (p34).

Mass rapid transit: The text does not discuss mass rapid transit, but Appendix B reproduces two QLDC maps whose legends include 'Gondola lines/base station (private)'. Figure 21 (QLDC Frankton Masterplan 2020 Land Use, p59) shows a dotted mass rapid transit line with base-station markers running from beside the terminal forecourt and regional coach hub east through Remarkables Park, with a branch south to the Quayside waterfront and jetty and a line north-east along the Kawarau River to the map edge. Figure 22 (Frankton Flats Master Plan, p60) shows the same legend item, with the line faintly visible beside the terminal outside the masterplan area. The same legends show public transport routes/stops (separated lanes or priority), an orbital bus route, ferry routes, park and ride, and key feature 22 'Potential future public transport route', noting that dashed routes are subject to further investigation (p59). QAC's own land transport plans (pp36-37, 46-54) do not mention mass rapid transit: they provide for buses, coaches, an express bus bay, park and ride, a green link and a ferry connection.