[ad_1]
Climate activists pretended to die in front of Christchurch city councilors as they joined Tarras residents in opposing the planned Central Otago airport.
Christchurch Airport announced in July that it had purchased land in the small town of Tarras and intended to build an airport there to unlock the nearby Queenstown tourist market.
Christchurch Airport is 75% owned by the city council holding company, of which some councilors, including the mayor, are on the board.
Steven Walton / Stuff
Extinction Rebellion protesters play dead at a Christchurch City Council meeting on Thursday.
At the council’s Finance and Performance Committee meeting on Thursday, three groups opposed to the airport questioned why the city-owned airport company was proposing a new airport when the city declared a climate emergency last year.
READ MORE:
* The blind landowners of Tarras did not know they were selling land for an airport
* No airport for Tarras until Queenstown reaches capacity, says airport chief
* Tarras airport was proposed to be the fourth for the southern region
* Central Otago expansion plan of Christchurch airport, new international option
Tarras resident Chris Goddard, representing local community group Sustainable Tarras, said the secrecy about the airport plans was not justified.
Steven Walton / Stuff
Chris Goddard, a Tarras resident and spokesperson for Sustainable Tarras, introduces himself to the Christchurch City Council.
“We’re flying blind, we don’t really know if it’s a $ 2 billion development or less than $ 1 billion; $ 46 million is not invested regardless of what the business case is,” he said.
The community was either totally against the airport or wanted more information, which the airport would not provide.
Christchurch Airport has been contacted for comment.
Steven Walton / Stuff
The Extinction Rebellion protesters play dead in the council room.
Goddard also raised concerns about inbound airline emissions at any new airport.
He said the four councilors who were also on the board of directors of the council holding company had a “very powerful role.” They are Mayor Lianne Dalziel, Andrew Turner, Sara Templeton, and James Gough.
Goddard urged them to take their message to the leaders of the Christchurch airport.
Meanwhile, the council also heard from members of Extinction Rebellion and School Strike 4 Climate, who were concerned about the environmental impact of the proposed airport.
Steven Walton / Stuff
Jelle Bonde, 20, holds up a sign that reads “Kiwis don’t fly” in front of city hall Thursday.
Climate activist Ciara Foley said she was embarrassed to live under a council that called for inspirational climate activists, but then had an indirect involvement with the airport that was “so objectively opposed to our mission.”
“They have the opportunity to do real good now in the position of power that they have, to defend and defend what is right, even if they do not have the direct power to change it,” he told councilors.
Speaking out would test the council’s belief in climate action, he said.
Councilor Melanie Coker told climate activists that she agreed with their opinion and had only learned about the proposed airport when it was publicly announced.
A spokesman for the Extinction Rebellion group, David Goldsmith, said the airport would create another jump in emissions, and it was hard to believe such a facility was being discussed during a climate crisis.
“No amount of green washing of sustainability can hide the fact that increased flight capacity will mean increased emissions,” he said.
Goldsmith asked council members to explain how the project was consistent with the council’s declaration of a climate emergency.
The Tarras airport was expected to be operational within five to 15 years and would cost hundreds of millions to build, Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Malcolm Johns said when the project was first announced.
The proposed airport has already faced pushback from some locals in Tarras and Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult.
Thursday’s protest against the airport comes just one day after the New Zealand government declared a climate emergency.
