On Monday it was Wanaka Stakeholders Group (WSG) lawyers firing potshots at Queenstown’s
council.

Yesterday, City Hall fired back. WSG’s pursuing a High Court judicial review over the council’s 2018 decision to lease Wanaka Airport to the Queenstown Airport Corporation for 100 years.

WSG opposes development of the airport for jet aircraft, and has called for the lease to be scrapped. The case is being heard by Justice Gerard van Bohemen.

On Monday, WSG barrister Julian Miles QC argued the lease was unlawful because the public consultation process was inadequate and negotiations were conducted in secret.

He submitted the council’s consultation “brochure” with “pretty pictures and comforting words” suggested any expansion of the airport would be modest and not include commercial jets.

And, he described the lease negotiations as secretive.

Yesterday, council barrister Nick Whittington submitted much of the case delivered by WSG was about politics and not about the lease agreement.

He’s disputing the evidence of WSG witnesses who stated the council had already decided to go ahead with jet services at Wanaka and questioned the expertise and impartiality of its expert witnesses.

In an exchange with Whittington, Van Bohemen said it was ”troubling” there’s not much evidence about what was happening during the lease negotiations.

The negotiations were carried out by mayor Jim Boult, council chief executive Mike Theelen and two councillors.

The case is expected to run all week.

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