Pittsworth and Millmerran airports up for lease

[fly_tornado]

TWO of the region's rural airstrips will be leased to private contractors and hobbyists as part of a new plan from the Toowoomba Regional Council.

 

The lease development plans for the Pittsworth and Millmerran aerodrome landing areas were passed by the council at the committee meetings yesterday, following constant inquiries from landholders about the availability of the land.

 

In his submissions to the council, aerodrome operations manager Barry Wicks said the lease development plans were essential to ensure land allocation was optimal.

 

"Due to the limited land remaining available for lease development at each aerodrome without substantial investment, it was considered desirable to prepare lease development plans to ensure that further leases would be optimally located given the constraints of each site, aviation safety requirements, and the potential future aviation needs and activities at each aerodrome," he said.

 

Both airstrips are currently used by agricultural sprayers, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the Royal Flying Doctor Service on occasion.

 

Infrastructure services general manager Mike Brady said Pittsworth's airstrip was of particular interest for several potential tenants, but both sites were seen as essential

 

"At Pittsworth, we've had a few enquiries there over the past year or two, maybe about half a dozen," he said.

 

"It's just trying to formalise it so we did the lease locations where they build their infrastructure.

 

"Those sites can start as hard-stand areas, like gravel or grass, (but) in years to come, if it gets a lot of use, we'll look at getting it sealed."

 

Infrastructure chair Cr Carol Taylor said that tenants would need to build their own sheds to house aircraft.

 

"It's all there so that people know exactly what's expected and where they can go," she said.

 

The TRC will call for expressions of interest early next year, including what operators would want to pay in lease rates.

 

 

[ave8rr]

TWO of the region's rural airstrips will be leased to private contractors and hobbyists as part of a new plan from the Toowoomba Regional Council.The lease development plans for the Pittsworth and Millmerran aerodrome landing areas were passed by the council at the committee meetings yesterday, following constant inquiries from landholders about the availability of the land.

 

In his submissions to the council, aerodrome operations manager Barry Wicks said the lease development plans were essential to ensure land allocation was optimal.

 

"Due to the limited land remaining available for lease development at each aerodrome without substantial investment, it was considered desirable to prepare lease development plans to ensure that further leases would be optimally located given the constraints of each site, aviation safety requirements, and the potential future aviation needs and activities at each aerodrome," he said.

 

Both airstrips are currently used by agricultural sprayers, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the Royal Flying Doctor Service on occasion.

 

Infrastructure services general manager Mike Brady said Pittsworth's airstrip was of particular interest for several potential tenants, but both sites were seen as essential

 

"At Pittsworth, we've had a few enquiries there over the past year or two, maybe about half a dozen," he said.

 

"It's just trying to formalise it so we did the lease locations where they build their infrastructure.

 

"Those sites can start as hard-stand areas, like gravel or grass, (but) in years to come, if it gets a lot of use, we'll look at getting it sealed."

 

Infrastructure chair Cr Carol Taylor said that tenants would need to build their own sheds to house aircraft.

 

"It's all there so that people know exactly what's expected and where they can go," she said.

 

The TRC will call for expressions of interest early next year, including what operators would want to pay in lease rates.

Sounds like costs at those aerodromes will go up. Whoever leases the aerodromes will want a return. Hangar ground lease ok by me. Landing fees most probably? Seems the Councils are all going this way now.

 

 

[derekliston]

Sounds like costs at those aerodromes will go up. Whoever leases the aerodromes will want a return. Hangar ground lease ok by me. Landing fees most probably? Seems the Councils are all going this way now.

All levels of government in this country just get greedier. Let’s see what else we can do to rip off the populace seems to be their mantra!

 

 

[fly_tornado]

Don't know about that but it looks like the aero clubs can expand their operations into new airports

 

 

[Mike Borgelt]

Millmerran will be good for crosswind practice. Runway is 90 degrees to prevailing winds, like many airports in Queensland. Pittsworth is better.

 

Toowoomba Regional Council isn't to be trusted. They'll likely steeply increase the lease rates once hangars are built. I don't think anyone wants to lease the entire airfield, just enough room to build a hangar. Councils also seem to want to lease you vast amounts of land for a small hangar which restricts the number that can be built and is more expensive to lease and maintain (mow the grass).

 

About 20 years ago I proposed to Toowoomba Council a plan for a series of small hangars in a row (common walls either side) but they want 400 square meters for each, room for an access road behind etc etc etc. Other people planned to build a large hangar but when the numbers were done and Council taken what they wanted it was uneconomic.

 

Of course government is greedy and ripping us off. How else will they pay for their cushy, secure, extremely well paid jobs doing SFA except get in everybody's way?

 

 

[Possum1]

The council would have had ALA Compliance Inspection Reports based on CAAP 92 recommendations done on each airfield and because neither airfield would entirely comply with CAAP 92, they think they will have to spend millions to make it comply and if they don't people will sue them. No-one can convince them that CAAP 92 does not contain laws or regulations, just recommendations and any users of the airfield just do the best they can with what airfield conditions actually exist.

 

In addition, some employee at the council has to be named as the person responsible by law for the veracity of all obstacles, notams etc. in updating the airfield details each year to Airservices Australia with 50 penalty point Strict Liability offences in place for those who don't comply. Who on a council would put their hand up for this job?

 

So they get rid of the responsibility of running the airfield, but still want to make money out of it so let it operate at someone else's risk.

 

 

[M61A1]

The council would have had ALA Compliance Inspection Reports based on CAAP 92 recommendations done on each airfield and because neither airfield would entirely comply with CAAP 92, they think they will have to spend millions to make it comply and if they don't people will sue them. No-one can convince them that CAAP 92 does not contain laws or regulations, just recommendations and any users of the airfield just do the best they can with what airfield conditions actually exist.

Especially since some dill has been allowed to build a house literally metres off the threshold of 20 at Pittsworth.

 

Millmerran will be good for crosswind practice. Runway is 90 degrees to prevailing winds, like many airports in Queensland. Pittsworth is better.

I assume you mean Pittsworth will be "better" for crosswind practice......:clap:a very narrow strip and the wind is almost always close to 90 deg.

 

 

[Mike Borgelt]

CAAP Civil Aviation ADVISORY Publication. Say it all really.

 

Yes some dill built a house just off the end of 23 at Gawler in the 1960s and complained when the odd towrope got dragged through his yard.

 

 

[fly_tornado]

 

here's your answer, these airports would make great training bases for Chinese flying schools. Local governments have found a way to offload some unwanted assets

 

 

[Bennyboy320]

Yes Merredin leased for $1 for 100 years, wow one cent a year, along with the sale of Darwin port authority we really are stupid white trash, talk about selling the farm:gaah: