Fifty-five percent of Fiordland ratepayers are against council funding of Te Anau Airport Manapouri.

The findings come following community consultation led by the Southland District Council.

Submitters were asked whether they agreed with the proposal to provide a portion of district rate funding for the airport and, if so, what portion should be allocated.

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Of those who indicated yes (45% of those submitting), 43% said up to 15% should be funded through district rate funding, 43% said up to 30% and 14% indicated a different amount. 

The draft rating review report was to be received by the Finance and Assurance committee today. It recommends the committee indicate any changes to the proposed policy/rating approach so they can be considered by the full council in January 2021. 

Most submitters gave reasons why the airport should or should not be funded through rates. 

Robin McCall said the airport shouldn’t be funded through rates and instead should be self-funded or locally funded. 

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Alistair Faulkner was also against funding through rates. 

“No, our airport on Stewart Island is privately owned and we paid for it in our ticket price,” he said.

Matt Darling and Glenda Payne were in support but were cautious.

“We tentatively support this decision, where economic upside can be found for the wider Southland District. We are unsure of how this currently occurs and would like further information on this before we can fully support such,” they said. 

David North said it should be funded up to 15% through rate payer money, which he estimated would cost $20,000 at “$1.25 per property”.

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Brian McCandless agreed the airport should be funded though rates, but only so the airport could be highlighted as a “tax burden,” to the community.

“The airport delivers little or no benefit to the community, either locally or Southland-wide. 100% of it’s costs should be borne by ratepayers throughout the district. This would highlight the tax burden that the airport represents to the wider community and might serve to accelerate its early disposal as a wasted asset,” he said.

Other supporters argued the airport has potential to provide access in emergencies, provides connectivity to other areas that need to be promoted and provides an economic upside for the wider Southland District.

Those against suggested there was more benefit to Southland’s economy from tourists who travel by car and support local businesses along the Southern Scenic Route. 

Other submitters suggested the lack of commercial flights meant the airport was not a real alternative transport option for Southlanders.