Te Anau-Manapouri's cash-strapped airport is under review, ahead of a doubling of the Fiordland airport's household rate and a planned major spend to maintain its runway.

The Southland District Council (SDC) owned and operated facility has been plagued with controversy and losses since its construction in 2008.

High capital costs and low passenger numbers have been blamed for operating losses, while building restrictions and a decision to use adjoining land for sewage effluent sparked widespread community backlash.

Shortfalls in the airport's budget, met annually by a Fiordland ratepayer levy, are also due to rise from $67.69 to $130 this year.

Following a request from the Fiordland Community Board (FCB), a six person review committee was appointed at the SDC's 17th May meeting and given $30,000 to carry out the review.

It includes aviation expert, former Dunedin Airport CEO and Chatham Island airport director Richard Roberts, along with SDC councilor Sarah Greaney (chair), FCB members Diane Holmes and Nick Robertson, Great South Tourism and Events general manager Mark Frood and a non-voting SDC staff member.

The group plans to consult with community stakeholders before presenting its recommendations to the full council by 1st October.

SDC Mayor Rob Scott said while he thought there was a future for the airport, it was important to go into the process with a very open mind.

"Its important to recognise that nothing is off the table in this review and we ultimately need to do what is best for the long term sustainability of the area."

"The ultimate goal is to look at how we can transform [the airport] into an asset for not just the Fiordland community but also the Southland community."

"Southland is unique in its makeup, as is Fiordland," Scott said.

"Its really important to look at some of those smaller airports in those smaller regions and see what is working well, and see what is potentially not working well and define our own sort of model."

Scott said the completed report would factor into decisions regarding this years planned runway resealing.

The work is to ensure compliance with section 139 of the Civil Aviation Authority so larger aircraft can land, however Scott feared the budgeted $1.3m would not now be enough.

Scott said it was also important to get the completed report and airport into the long term plan as a strategic asset.

It means Southlanders can have an input, through public consultation, into what they think the airports future is, he said.