Project 2-Zero is Nelson Airport’s plan to ensure a resilient and successful future for the home of aviation in Nelson-Tasman.
That’s important because the airport is nationally and regionally significant infrastructure, enabling lifeline services during times of emergency and an alternative supply route in the event of road disruption. It’s also critical for the health of the region’s economy, community wellbeing, and connectivity within New Zealand.
Project 2-Zero aims to alter Nelson Airport's existing designations and zoning in the Nelson Resource Management Plan to provide the necessary planning approvals to support Nelson Airport’s future operations – including the ability to extend the airport's main existing runway to the north within the next 10 – 15 years.
At 1347m, Nelson Airport’s existing runway is among the shortest runways in the world catering for the type of aircraft operating at Nelson. Under certain conditions, the runway length restricts the ability of airlines to operate efficiently here. It is also expected to be too short to accommodate future sustainably-powered aircraft. The development of zero-emission propulsion systems and next-generation aircraft is a key focus of the aviation industry’s current research and development efforts to decarbonise the sector’s operations. Nelson Airport is committed to contributing to these efforts and wants to have the ability to provide for these next generation aircraft.
In April 2022, Nelson Airport began a community conversation around the proposed changes to its designations, including a face-to-face community engagement session, a letter-drop to neighbouring properties, and the provision of information in the Airport terminal and on the Nelson Airport website.
The initial engagement helped inform a formal planning application that was lodged with Nelson City Council on 8 March 2023.
This page provides more information about Project 2-Zero.
OVERVIEW
Nelson Airport’s vision is to be “a world-class airport where zero emissions aircraft operate”. A key part of realising this future is an extended runway capable of hosting next-generation aircraft.
The airport has signalled the need for a longer runway for many years through its annual reports, master plan and other public documents. While the development is still 10-15 years away, planning needs to continue in earnest now to give the airport, its neighbours and the wider Nelson-Tasman community certainty for the future.
The planning application aims to protect and provide for the runway extension by ensuring appropriate land designations and zoning are in place.
The key reasons for extending the runway are:
To ensure Nelson Airport is set up to host future sustainably-powered aircraft, which are expected to require longer runways than Nelson Airport currently provides.
To remove existing payload restrictions for current aircraft operating at Nelson.
To improve safety through the provision of Runway End Safety Areas (RESA).
Ensuring the runway can support the region's growth, connectivity, resilience and prosperity is central to Nelson Airport's role and responsibilities. A successful airport contributes to a strong, vibrant, and prosperous region, bringing economic, social, and recreational opportunities for the whole community.
The extended runway is not being sought in order to cater for regional jets. Nelson Airport would have to go through a further planning process should it seek to introduce regional jet operations in future.
The planning application
We have lodged an application with the Nelson City Council for:
A Notice of Requirement to alter the airport’s three designations in the Nelson Resource Management Plan: DAA1 ‘Aerodrome (Nelson Airport)’, DAA2 ‘Airnoise boundary controls’, and DAA3 ‘Airport height restrictions’. The alterations protect and provide for the runway extension, the activities of a contemporary regional airport and forecast levels of airport activity.
A Private Plan Change to amend the airport’s zoning from the current mix of Industrial, Open Space and Recreation and Residential zoning to a specific Airport Zone, and to provide a more consistent approach to the development of sensitive uses (like housing) around the airport.
The application includes an analysis of the effects of the proposal, including the environmental and economic impacts. You can read the full analysis on the Nelson City Council’s Shape Nelson website.
Nelson Airport requested that Nelson City Council publicly notify our application, and there was a public submissions process in 2023.
Notice of Requirement
A Notice of Requirement is an application to designate an area for a particular activity, often a public work. Designations are planning tools that protect land for the designated purpose, ensuring the land can't be used in a way that would prevent the work.
Nelson Airport is seeking to alter its designations for Airport and Aerodrome Purposes (DAA1) as shown in the image below.
The airport is also seeking to alter its designation for Airnoise boundary controls (DAA2), to recognise the pattern of noise created by aircraft using an extended runway and to account for projected future levels of activity. The alterations to this designation also update Nelson Airport's responsibilities in terms of managing and monitoring noise exposure on the community, and introduce an acoustic mitigation programme for eligible properties.
The third designation (DAA3) imposes height restrictions on objects within a radius of the airport in order to protect aircraft manoeuvring in and out of the airport, in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority requirements.
Proposed Plan Change
The current zoning for Nelson Airport is largely industrial and doesn’t appropriately recognise the current land use, requirements for contemporary airports, or best practice national planning standards, which recommend an ‘Airport Zone’ be adopted for airport facilities and associated land.
The proposed plan change would introduce an Airport Zone, with three precincts:
Core Airport Precinct – providing for aviation operations and expansion.
Airport Environs Precinct – supporting a mix of business activity, including industry, airport-related activities and tourist and visitor/workforce support activities.
Airport Coastal Precinct – providing for uses associated with ongoing airport operations adjoining the coastal marine area and Jenkins Creek, while recognising the values of the coastal environment.
You can access the full application on the Nelson City Council’s Shape Nelson website.
NOISE MANAGEMENT
Noise contours define the level of noise that can be expected from aircraft operations in areas near the airport. The contours also place limits on how much noise the airport is allowed to generate in these areas.
The contours help city planners and developers identify suitable areas for housing, recreation and other land uses while protecting current operations and future airport needs.
The existing noise contours for Nelson Airport were based on a different fleet of aircraft and level of activity than exists today. Updated contours will more accurately reflect the expected future level of noise generated by the airport.
There will be no immediate changes in the noise generated at the airport. These planning changes are to ensure the airport adequately plans for and mitigates future noise, as the contours reflect the projected future noise of the reconfigured and fully operational runway out to 2050.
As part of our application we are also introducing a best practice noise mitigation package, including fully funding mitigation measures such as mechanical ventilation and acoustic insulation for qualifying existing homes, to help minimise the impact of noise.
Read more about Noise Management and Mitigation
Nelson Golf Club Land
We are proposing to extend the runway to the north in future, which would require some land currently owned by the Nelson Golf Club. We have been in conversations with the golf club over many years about this and engagement is ongoing. We’re committed to working constructively with the club.
The proposal will not affect the club’s ability to operate until such time as a decision is made to commence construction to physically extend the runway.
Northern v Southern runway extension
We have looked carefully at the options for which way to extend the runway, including commissioning reports assessing geotechnical, archaeological and heritage, ecological, transport, noise, landscape and economic matters related to the two options: a northern extension on to Nelson Golf Club land, and a southern extension into Jenkins Creek and Waimea Estuary.
Extending south would require the reclamation of seabed and significant ecological disturbance. The expert advice shows that, overall, a northern extension is the preferred option.
More information about the southern extension analysis is available on the Nelson City Council’s Shape Nelson website.
Sustainability and Climate Resilience
A key driver for the proposal is the need to ensure Nelson Airport’s infrastructure can support the aviation industry’s transition towards a sustainable future, as well as to support the future needs of our region.
The airport is located on the coast, as many airports are – coastal locations are a safe place for aircraft to land and take off. Nelson Airport is committed to ensuring its current location is as resilient as possible to sea-level rise and climate change effects. This is a key focus of all our current planning and infrastructure works.
The runway extension is not expected to be physically built for at least 10-15 years. We are closely following the updated science, Government and Council guidelines as they become available to incorporate into our planning and decision-making. Hydrological studies will inform future runway and stormwater design to reflect an appropriate approach to the effects of climate change.