Residents are being advised of a planned fire training exercise near Queenstown Airport later tonight. A media alert issued by the Queenstown Airport Corporation confirmed it involved a "controlled burn". "The exercise will take place at approximately 9pm tonight once the last flight has departed, due to depart for Melbourne at 20.35pm, so if people see smoke near the airport around that time there is no need for concern", the statement read. "The farm land used for the controlled burn exercise is owned by Queenstown Airport Corporation and is located near the Countdown/Five Mile area off Grant Road. "Of course if people have concerns about an uncontrolled fire not related to the exercise they are encouraged to call emergency services."

Source: Otago Daily Times October 01, 2019 04:18 UTC