Context
We introduce FlightPlan2050 to QLDC Councillors, being the third triennium of councillors with whom we have advocated our mission for a new, holistic approach to the Central Lakes future airport infrastructure.
QLDC full council meeting
June 1, 2023
Kia ora, I am representing FlightPlan2050.
As I give you this report today, I am conscious that only Councillors Smith and Ferguson were at the table when FlightPlan2050 began. So, I thought today I’d take the time to introduce ourselves.
Our Genesis was in 2018, with public workshops feeding into the Frankton Masterplan. There were great aspirations for a connected, vibrant community, and participants identified the airport as the greatest obstacle to achieving their vision.
But the facilitators shut down and excluded any discussion on this. So, David Jerram and Gillian Macleod collaborated on an alternative Masterplan without the airport to show the potential. Gillian was previously a three-term Councillor, and both were architects and urban designers. They subsequently shared their ideas with some of us.
Their Masterplan was professional work drawing on staff in David’s four offices throughout New Zealand. We tried to have it included or displayed during the subsequent consultation meetings, emailing in advance for permission. But that was refused.
So, we organised a public presentation attended by 300. Mayor Lewis will remember this well, as he was chair of the Frankton Community Association and co-hosted the meeting with the Kelvin Heights Community Association.
Many people have contributed time and expertise to further develop the proposal in the years since. They include some of New Zealand’s best business and legal minds, engineers, urban planners, infrastructure specialists, airline and Air Force pilots, and many others.
They live in Queenstown, Wānaka, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and throughout New Zealand. Some even live near Tarras.
All have contributed their knowledge and time pro bono, and none have any personal financial or other interests in the proposal or its outcomes – other than thinking it would be best for the district.
We accept this is a challenging conversation with issues currently sitting in isolated silos of separate communities, different geographies, competing companies, unrelated local governments, and special interest groups.
This makes your contribution and leadership vital.
I hope it will help stimulate your council to begin a public conversation on the ideas it raises.
Ngā mihi, e noho rā