Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
An aviation veteran says the proposed new international airport in Central Otago is unnecessary and will negatively impact the local area. Christchurch International Airport, owned by the council and crown, is planning to build an airport in Tarras, capable of landing wide-bodied jets. So far it has spent $45 million buying farm land in the sparsely populated valley, and claims the airport terminal it builds will be "climate positive". Norm Thompson is a former Air New Zealand deputy chief executive, former Queenstown airport board member, and deputy chair of MBIE's Tourism Infrastructure Fund. He received the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to aviation and tourism. He says there is plenty of capacity in existing airports. Kathryn also speaks with Suze Keith from the local group Sustainable Tarras which says the airport project will be damaging to the environment and could end up being a white elephant for Christchurch ratepayers. Michael Singleton from Christchurch International Airport responds.
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