landing fees

[kfowler]

can anyone tell me what landing fees are for.The strip in question is gravel 1500 mts long graded buy the local aero club, nothing else in the area to speak of it has been in us for 30 year the first 10 by gliding the next 20 by meat bombs up until now the local council did not want any thing to do with it three years ago they where going to rip it up.but the meat bombs protested and tried to get control of it to no avail because a mining company now wants to up grade the strip to two km gravel for there use fly in fly out the company is going to pay for the up grade no charge to the council the council wants to charge every one else to use the strip also can any one come up with how to fight this council on this one

 

 

[johnprop]

Claim the airstrip has local historical significance under Council's Local Environmental Plan. eg. was it the first location of a landing of an aircraft in the Council area? Did someone of significance land there? Did some important person own or use the land? Are there any buildings, earthworks etc with an historical link? Are there any special plants or animals that would be destroyed/displaced by the grading of the airstrip? Get a consultant or a greenie to write a BS story for you and stick it up Council ASAP. If all elses fails form an action committee/group and stand for election to Council. Don't accept the word of Council staff or Councillors on anything. Start a paper dialogue with Council/ local Councillors/state member/federal member/ CASA/local media etc. Good luck.

 

Clive Johnson

 

Town Planning Consultant

 

Cronulla

 

Sydney

 

 

[kfowler]

thank you for your reply Clive the air strip was built by western mining back in the 70?for the gliding club it was alway mainly for rec flying there is a parashute club with about two people in it at the moment they had a hunger ,kitchen, toilet and barrack then the area went down with one person flying in each week to keep it open the vandals got to it and destroyed the lot the council would not help they wanted to bull doz the lot except for one persons effect to keep it open he tryed to get control of it but no luck. the mining company does not want the rec flyer to pay fees the council is saying user pays to pay for the up keep the rec flyer are supporting the mining company for commerical flights to pay fees as the other mining company are not putting any money up be the will use it the .ultra light club have been using it for the last 4 months at the moment we have ten student learning to fly we are paying to get the school up which is 8 hours away by car 3.5 hour flying this cost goes onto the flight lesson cost any other cost would almost get to ga lessons costs there is a ga school in the area with a tar strip about 1 hour away they charge landing fees but you can get fuel there and if the aero club is open a coffee so thats ok but our strip is ok for us the up grade is great the miming comp want to help us as they can see the benefit to the community

 

 

[BigPete]

Sounds to me like you really need to get he mining company on line with the RAA guys. :big_grin:

 

They've probably got a fair amount of clout compared to you guys - if you get my drft. ;)

 

Good Luck! with it all, keep us posted. ;)

 

regards

 

 

[Ben Longden]

I agree...

 

The Parkes NSW Shire wanted to charge REX $1 extra per passenger in landing fees for the maintenance of the strip and terminal in a fee restructure.

 

REX said No, and decided to stop their flights to and from Parkes. In the end, Council backed down especially after the fed transport Minister decided to ask what was going on.

 

Ben

 

 

[Guest brentc]

Be thankful you don't fly into Essendon. It costs me $40 a pop! and I'm only 700 kg's!

 

 

[poteroo]

I agree with the town planner - get some paperwork exchanging underway as you then have some history. Detail to Council exactly how the strip has been used by yourselves, and others, over 'x' years, and claim ongoing rights to continue on the basis of prior rights, or prior occupation.

 

Ask them to form an 'airport management committee' with each and every group represented on it - right down to the local wildflower club! You'll have more chance of being able to outvote Council on a big committee.

 

If the worst comes to the worst, and you are being pushed into a corner - suggest an 'annual' user fee might be more appropriate than a single use fee of $5.50/tonne. Other places have managed to limit the damage to anywhere from $50 to $150 per year - which allows for unlimited use by an aircraft.

 

If it all turns to tears, and you are run-over by Council, be sure to draw out the payment of accounts sufficiently that they send you several reminders. The fee of $5.50 becomes meaningless when it costs business probably $20 per invoice or reminder. Then write to the local newspaper with details about how the longsuffering ratepayer is funding ridiculous recovery efforts for airport fees. At this time, mention the public good of having a local airport available to RFDS, firefighting, SES, CALM and Police aircraft as well.

 

good luck,