A public toilet and a private pilots' shelter can be built at Milford Aerodrome in Fiordland National Park after the Department of Conservation granted a 30-year concession on 16 October, DOC records show.
The Otago Daily Times reported the approval on Monday.
The applicant was the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport.
It sought a lease, a licence and an easement to build, run and maintain the two facilities at the aerodrome at Milford Sound/Piopiotahi.
According to DOC, the application was approved and a 30-year concession issued.
DOC publicly notified the application under section 17SC of the Conservation Act 1987.
Submissions closed on 14 September. DOC received four, and all four supported the proposal.
The application and the submissions are published on DOC's website.
The airstrip sits at the head of Milford Sound, where the Cleddau and Arthur rivers meet.
Pilot Fred Lucas first landed on the sand spit there on 22 August 1951, and the first official landing on the strip was in May 1952, according to Wikipedia.
It was licensed for twin-engine aircraft in 1956. By 1964, more than 400 tourists a month were taking the flight at peak holiday times, Wikipedia records.
Wikipedia notes a Flight Service building at the aerodrome. The strip sits 3 metres above sea level, has a single sealed runway of a little under 800 metres, and is operated by the Ministry of Transport.
Most of its traffic is tourist flights. Light aircraft, mostly Cessna Caravans and GA8 Airvans, fly in daily from Queenstown and Wānaka when the weather allows, and helicopters also use the strip.
Operators listed as flying there include Air Milford, Glenorchy Air, Southern Alps Air, True South Flights and Milford Sound Helicopters, which is based at the airport.
Wikipedia describes the airport as small but very busy for flight movements, though it gives no passenger numbers.
What happens next
DOC's published decision does not give a construction date or cost for the toilet and shelter.
DOC lists Ben Fielding, a senior permissions Treaty advisor, as its contact for the application. Questions can be sent to DNSubmissions@doc.govt.nz, the address given on the consultation page.
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