Alice Gott: from Dunedin to Berlin
INSIDE THIS WEEK Views: Page 9 Jobs: Page 11 Sport: Page 12
...and to Wanaka, with the Lazarus String Quartet.
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Float fit fun If you’re not falling, you’re not trying.
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thewanakasun.co.nz
THUR 22.08.19 - WED 28.08.19
DELIVERED AND FREE
EDITION 936
Students rock at MACStock concert
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PHOTO: Gareth Hodges
Boult’s airport appeasement fails to fly Emma Conyngham
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
A
fter Mayor Boult’s dramatic statement at the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) meeting two weeks ago in an attempt to appease the heated debate, the Wanaka Stakeholders Group (WSG) released their feedback which ranges from respectfully cynical to outright disbelief, with a suspicion that the pause is only for electioneering purposes. “Many of our members have also noted (publicly and privately) that in the lead up to an election,
it might be tempting for the council to attempt to calm the voices of concern in the community, at least until the new council is in place, only to continue with ‘Plan A,’” wrote Michael Ross, chair of the WSG. Ross doesn’t pull any punches but delivered a clear message about the lack of transparency over the privately negotiated terms of the 100-year lease stating in no uncertain terms that, “we believe the process you have taken to be both unlawful and unreasonable, and we are determined to challenge this if it is not resolved by you.” QLDC responded, “The lease agreement
between QLDC and QAC has not been made public on the reasoning of commercial sensitivity, in that there are concerns the commercial position of QAC would be unreasonably prejudiced by its release.” The letter also expressed the same concern articulated by the Wanaka Sun last week in regards to the lack of an independent environmental assessment. “In your statement last week, you have not committed to a full and robust assessment of the environmental impacts of developing Wanaka Airport — in fact you barely mention the environment. Yet your community has
made it clear that the environment is of deep concern. A proper environmental impact analysis should be non-negotiable.” Ross goes further to demand that a steering group be established to sign off on the terms of reference that govern possible airport expansion, and that the WSG be on that group, in addition to the Wanaka Community Board and community association representatives. The Wanaka Sun has asked Mayor Boult whether this suggestion is a possibility but was told by a QLDC spokesperson, “QLDC will, of course,
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Albert Town 31 Matheson Crescent
Wanaka 7 Urquhart Place
Wanaka 18 Mount Nicholas Avenue
For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior) 4pm, Fri 20 Sep 2019, 62 Ardmore St, Wanaka bayleys.co.nz/224852
For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior) 4pm, Thu 26 Sep 2019, 62 Ardmore St, Wanaka bayleys.co.nz/224866
For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty (unless sold prior) 4pm, Fri 27 Sep 2019, 62 Ardmore St, Wanaka bayleys.co.nz/224867
Sharon Donnelly P 0508 DONNELLY
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E sharon.donnelly@bayleys.co.nz
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