Draft Glenorchy Airstrip Reserve Management Plan 2025
Have your say on a plan to manage the Glenorchy Airstrip Reserve
We’ll be consulting on a draft Glenorchy Airstrip Reserve Management Plan 2025 (RMP) from 30 May to 8 August 2025. The plan will outline how Council will manage the airstrip on behalf of users and the Glenorchy community.
We want to know if you support the plan to manage the reserve so it can be enjoyed by all users.
Objectives and policies in the draft plan include:
- aviation operations
- commercial aviation activity
- development and infrastructure
- funding and user charges
- carbon and noise emissions
- governance and community input
The draft RMP has been guided by initial feedback from the Glenorchy community and stakeholders, including commercial operators and the aviation industry.
>> Read the summary of feedback we received as part of the Glenorchy Airstrip RMP review
How to have your say
Take a look at the plan from 30 May and share your thoughts by clicking on the submission form at the bottom of the page.
>> Download and read the draft Glenorchy Airstrip Reserve Management Plan 2025
This document will also be able to be viewed at Council offices and libraries district-wide.
We are now in the formal part of the process with the draft Glenorchy Airstrip RMP open for public submissions from 30 May to 8 August 2025. Submitters also have the option to speak to their submission at a public hearing in August (through the submission form below).
Submissions on the draft Glenorchy Airstrip RMP will close on Friday 8 August 2025.
Background
Council is responsible for managing the Glenorchy Airstrip Reserve, a small aerodrome situated just south of the township of Glenorchy, on the banks of Lake Whakatipu.
The principal purpose of the Reserve is to provide for a small aerodrome with a grass airstrip for limited recreation and commercial aviation activities that provide for emergency services, farming, conservation and local tourism.
Since Glenorchy Airstrip RMP was adopted in 2016 the use of the airstrip has changed, and a limit on flights and a noise contour have been added to the District Plan Designation that authorises the take-off and landing of all aircraft at the airstrip. A noise contour sets a maximum ‘bucket’ of noise that is allowed from use of the airstrip.
In response to these changes, we carried out a review of the Glenorchy Airstrip RMP in September 2023 to better understand the needs of users and the community, and to ensure ongoing compliance with the District Plan.
This feedback was used to guide the draft plan which sets out the direction for the use and development of the Airstrip Reserve, through a vision and a series of objectives and policies. These will act as a guide for Council officers when making day-to-day and longer-term decisions about how the Airstrip Reserve will be used, including whether hangars are appropriate, how commercial flight numbers are allocated, and setting fees and charges.
What happens next?
Following the close of public submissions, there will be an opportunity for submitters to speak at a public hearing in late August. The hearing panel will consider all submissions and recommend final changes to the plan. This plan will then be presented to the QLDC Community & Services Committee for recommendation in September and to Full Council for adoption on 9 October.
Got a question?
If you have a question, please submit on the Q&A tool below and we'll get it answered as soon as possible. All questions and answers will be published for everyone to see.
