An Air New Zealand Q300 landing at Nelson Airport. Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal
Nelson Airport is asking the public for submissions on its plan to extend its runway and amend its land zoning.
The Nelson City Council has publicly notified the airport's application to amend its current designations.
The consultation period runs until 10 July.
Nelson Airport chief executive Mark Thompson said the plan, Project 2-Zero, aimed to ensure a sustainable future for aviation in Nelson-Tasman.
Reasons for a runway extension included to ensure Nelson Airport was set up to host future sustainably-powered aircraft, remove existing weight restrictions for current aircraft and improve safety by providing for additional buffer areas for aircraft.
The project was named after both the runway's technical name (2-0) and the aim of contributing to a zero-carbon future for aviation.
Thompson said a longer runway was needed within the next 10 to 15 years to cater for future low-emission aircraft.
"Our runway is among the shortest in the world catering for ATR aircraft and is expected to be too short for future low-emissions aircraft.
"Expert advisors tell us these aircraft are likely to require longer take-off and landing facilities than we currently provide."
The application, which is in two parts, seeks a private plan change application to amend the airport's zoning in the Nelson Resource Management Plan from the current mix of industrial, open space and recreation, and residential zoning, to a specific airport zone.
It also seeks a notice of requirement to alter the airport's existing designations in regards to aerodrome, air noise boundary controls and airport height restrictions.
It includes a new best practice noise mitigation package for qualifying existing homes in areas covered by the airport's noise contours.
Thompson said it was important people understood the proposal.
"The runway extension is not intended as an enabler for jet aircraft, nor is it being sought to increase the frequency or hours of flights.
"Activity at the airport will change over time, but extending the runway is about setting us up for a low-emissions future for aviation and allowing our existing operators to fly more efficiently with full loads."
