Waimakariri District Council is confident the Government will not have to step in to resolve a noise restriction dispute with Christchurch International Airport.
Councils in Canterbury have been given a deadline of one month to reach an agreement with the airport about the effect its noise corridor will have on planned subdivisions.
Some 860 properties in the town of Kaiapoi have to be abandoned due to earthquake damage. They have been designated as red zone, meaning they are uninhabitable.
Residential development is currently restricted by the airport's 50-decibel noise corridor and there is concern this will limit new subdivisions for displaced residents.
Environment Minister Nick Smith says there is a huge need for land in the area and the Government may exercise its powers under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act if an agreement is not reached within a month.
But Waimakariri Mayor David Ayers says it is in discussion with the airport and hopes an agreement can be reached before the Government steps in.
Waimakariri MP Clayton Cosgrove believes the noise limit should be lifted to the internationally recognised 55 decibels, which would allow developments to go ahead.
But Dr Smith says changing the limit would not give the airport company security against objections to future expansions and the area the corridor covers may have to be changed to exclude the planned subdivisions.
