1 March 2017

NZALPA Calls for Adjournment of Environment Court Hearing After Court of Appeal Decision

Following the Court of Appeal decision for the Director of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to reconsider his review of the 90-metre safety area for an extended Wellington Airport runway, the New Zealand Air Line Pilots’ Association (NZALPA) today asked the Environment Court for an adjournment of the Resource Management Act consents process.

With the hearings set down for June, in a memorandum to the Environment Court NZALPA explained that, in the circumstances, it would clearly be unfair to the 274 parties who have lodged submissions in regard to the Wellington International Airport Limited’s (WIAL) consent applications for a runway extension under the Resource Management Act.

It would therefor be inefficient for the hearing to proceed.

The memorandum said that the parties would be expending considerable resources on a proposal which may be withdrawn or altered and that is seeks the current hearing fixture and timetable be vacated.

NZALPA asked for the WIAL application to be adjourned until such time as the Director has made his decision and WIAL has decided whether to abandon or modify its current application or proceed as it is.

NZALPA president Tim Robinson reiterated again today that pilots were not against growth of the airport.

“ As we've consistently said, as commercial pilots and air traffic controllers, our members have much to gain from an increase in flights landing and leaving from Wellington Airport, but not at any cost - especially if that cost is to the safety of passengers, local people, and airport staff,” Robinson said.

In the Court of Appeal decision released yesterday, the Director of the CAA and Wellington International Airport Limited were also ordered to pay NZALPA for the costs of taking this action.

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