The eight properties were purchased between 2011 and 2016, with the intention of rezoning them for an industrial business park.

However, the plan failed when a newly-elected council voted it down in October last year.

At the time, mayor Reg Kidd said options would be canvassed for the land, including aeronautical uses within the buffer zone and agricultural uses outside, which might have included putting the land on the market.

However, council spokesman Nick Redmond said there were no plans to sell council-owned land around the airport. 

“By holding onto a buffer of land around the airport , the council aims to avoid the problems of residential encroachment which have affected services at other regional airports,” he said.