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Remarkables Park hits back at airport

The matter is before the Environment Court, with a full judgment expected soon.

Chris Hutching
Mon, 25 Feb 2013

Queenstown developer Remarkables Park, owned by Porter Group, is in a spin over Queenstown Airport Corporation’s plans to take some of its land.

The matter is before the Environment Court, with a full judgment expected soon.

An interim judgment indicated half of the land on Lot 6 – the target property – is not required.

Counsel for Remarkables Park developer Alastair Porter has argued in court that Queenstown Airport does not a have a business case to compulsorily acquire the land on the south side of the airfield.

Rather, the airfield operations should be to the north, where the Shotover Business Park is located (another Porter development), according to the developer. The southern area should remain the focus of terminal activities, he says.

This was in an original master plan for the airport, but the airport executives changed their mind, according to Mr Porter.

He says he became annoyed at Queenstown airport officials presenting their case at various public forums and having them reported by media recently.

“Our lawyers tell us it’s inappropriate for Remarkables Park to discuss evidence opposing the taking of its land while the courts are considering those matters, so it’s obviously also inappropriate for Queenstown Airport to constantly re-litigate its case through the media and other public forums.”

“The final irony is that the airport already owns more than adequate land to the north for its expansion, which it gained as part of a good faith contractual land exchange with our group in 1998.

“This was completed on the basis that each party would not again oppose the development of the others’ land.”

c.hutch@clear.net.nz

Chris Hutching
Mon, 25 Feb 2013
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Remarkables Park hits back at airport
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