IHP Report and the Airport Noise Contour

Following on from yesterday's post, here’s what we hope the Independent Hearings Panel (IHP) will recommend on the Airport Noise Contour:

Under the NPS-UD, councils are required to upzone around metro centres. In order to retain the ability of councils to manage localised risks like flooding, they can use Qualifying Matters (QMs) to exempt certain areas from upzoning on a site-by-site basis.

One of the QMs is an extension of the current Airport Noise contour to a much wider area based on new modelling of potential future airport use. The proposed QM extends from the airport, past the University of Canterbury and Riccarton Central, all the way to Hagley Park and Blenheim Road.

There is a tradeoff to be made between noise exposure and housing capacity. It must be emphasised that this is an important urban centre with a rapidly growing university, stunning parks and many frequent public transport routes. The noise limit being used is much lower than is standard practice in New Zealand, additionally, with options like noise insulation being completely dismissed.

According to Christchurch City Council analysis, two of the most feasible areas in the city for intensification (Ilam and Riccarton) are within the Airport Noise Contour. This shows that this level of airport noise is not a big issue for people when deciding where to live and more people should be allowed to live in these high amenity areas.

Importantly, increasing the size of the Airport Noise Contour provides very marginal benefit to Christchurch’s Airport. The aircraft approach creating this contour is for landings only for smaller aircraft, used only a fraction of the time. As a result however, housing capacity will be massively reduced in an area well suited for growth.

With all this being said, we hope that the Independent Hearings Panel will be balanced and recognise the importance and suitability for housing in the Riccarton/University area by scaling back the corridor closer to what it has been in the past.