Push for Night Flights at ZQNAllowing night flights to arrive in Queenstown would boost the Otago economy by $39.4 million a year and create employment for 665 workers, according to an independent research consultant. He was speaking at a plan change hearing in Queenstown this week. The Otago Daily Times reports that QAC chief executive Steve Sanderson said “The current noise boundaries are reaching the end of their capacity. To facilitate the growing tourism market the airport needs to extend its noise boundaries. “Strategically it also needs to be able to extend its operating hours to allow for a limited number of scheduled flight arrivals between 10pm and midnight, to capture the Australian market and allow holiday makers to maximise their vacation, rather than losing valuable time travelling during the day. “Capping the number [of] flights in Queenstown at current capacity would seriously affect the local economy.” The ODT says the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s senior policy analyst, Karen Page, was highly critical of the proposals in her report to the commissioners. She recommended they accept submissions that night-time flights should be rejected and said the hearing should be adjourned, because QAC did not provide enough information for the commissioners to make an informed decision. Of 92 submissions, 24 supported, eight partly supported, and 60 opposed the plan change.
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