During his submission for Air New Zealand, Wellington lawyer James Gardner-Hopkins said the airline was in advanced discussions with the Education Ministry on noise standards on the ministry's preferred school site, which lies within the Remarkables Park zone in Frankton.
An announcement on a new site for Wakatipu High School has been expected since 2009. Plans for a relocation have been in the pipeline for 10 years, but the ministry has so far kept any firm location plans under wraps.
Wakatipu High School board chairman Alistair Nicholson said last year that during winter staff and pupils faced "permafrost" conditions at the current Fryer St location, which received very little sunshine.
The school opened with a roll of 150 in 1980, but now had over 700 pupils enrolled, even after cutting at least 200 year 7 and 8 students from its roll in the past few years to help ease the load.
Education Minister Hekia Parata's office could not be reached for comment on the matter, as yesterday was a public holiday for Wellington Anniversary Day.
Neither Mr Nicholson nor board spokesman Greg Turner could be reached for comment.
The school faced leadership difficulties last year, which stemmed from criticisms in an Education Review Office report about communication between senior management and staff.
A Christchurch employment advocate appointed to work with senior management at the school to resolve the issues, but in a surprise September announcement, principal Lyn Cooper was dismissed by the advocate after they failed to resolve the problem.
Mrs Cooper was then reinstated in early November after she lodged a claim with the Employment Relations Authority.
She completed the school year and resigned on December 9.
Acting principal Paul O'Connor, was appointed to the principals' role until a permanent replacement could be found.
Remarkables Park director Alastair Porter could not be reached for comment.
The Environment Court appeal hearing, between Air New Zealand and a long list of appellants – including Queenstown Airport, Remarkables and Shotover Park, Wakatipu Residents Against Airport Noise and the Queenstown Lakes District Council – is being held over the next two weeks to resolve noise issues.
The hearing was adjourned early yesterday afternoon to allow lawyers to prepare further evidence. It will resume tomorrow at 10am.
Site for new high school revealed
24 January 2012
The Southland Times
The first indication the Education Ministry has a site earmarked for a new Queenstown high school was inadvertently revealed in an Environment Court hearing yesterday.