AN airport business operator has welcomed a proposal to relax landing charges where they boost activity and employment.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Orange City Council considered the charges as part of a range of measures to grow the facility.
In a report to councillors, staff said cuts to the landing charge, which are currently $5.30 a tonne for planes lighter than two tonnes and $17.60 a passenger in aircraft belonging to regional airlines, could be negotiated with general manager Garry Styles provided there were extra aviation activities offered, employing more people.
Central West Helicopter School’s Joel Stewart said it was a positive step.
“Anything that reduces operating costs has got to be a benefit,” he said.
Mr Stewart said the introduction of the charge in 2014 had a significant impact on his bottom line because he could no longer trade on the exemption he enjoyed in the past.
Aerodrome committee chairman and councillor Chris Gryllis said the measure could open opportunities to secure flight routes beyond Sydney.
If we can have a new route that will take us to Canberra or Melbourne or Brisbane, that should be encouraged.
- Councillor Chris Gryllis
“If we can have a new route that will take us to Canberra or Melbourne or Brisbane, that should be encouraged accordingly,” he said.
The council also intends to build more hangars, which would be available for lease, so businesses did not face the commercial risk of building a facility on land they did not own.
Any negotiations between businesses and Mr Styles will ultimately be brought back to councillors for approval.
Meanwhile, the council is seeking funding for a secure paid car park for travellers needing to leave their cars at the airport for longer periods.
Of the 120 extra spaces, located east of the terminal exit, 60 would be secure and Cr Gryllis said the long-term plan was to put them undercover and install solar panels.
Parking rates have not yet been determined.
The measures are separate to the proposed industrial business park rezoning.
In a confidential session later in the night, councillors considered tenders to resurface the runway and complete rehabilitation work on one of the taxiways, but a failure to meet tender requirements including the project budget meant negotiations will continue.