Hearings for Wellington Airport's runway extension could be delayed for another five months over long-standing safety-related issues.
The Environment Court resource consent process for the extension was put on hold in April and was due to resume this month.
It was put on hold because the airport, and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), had to reconsider the length of the runway end safety areas following a Supreme Court decision late last year.
The Court said the safety areas should ideally be 240 metres if practicable and no shorter than 90 metres.
In May, Wellington Airport presented the CAA with proposals for 90-metre to 140-metre safety areas.
Since then, there has been significant 'back and forth' between CAA and the airport.
Documents released by the Environment Court today show the airport filed a "consolidated" safety proposal only a fortnight ago.
The CAA's manager of aeronautical services, Sean Rogers, said it needs until March next year to consider the design and ensure it "meets all the legal, technical and regulatory requirements".
The hundreds of submitters involved in the Environment Court hearings have one week to have their say on the request for a further adjournment.
The 355-metre runway extension is expected to cost more than $300 million, with $140 million coming from local councils. The airport has not said how much it will contribute.
SHARE ME