Spitfire commute plan revs up

Approval recommended for Spitfire plan

BUSINESSMAN Pat English’s (right) bid to beat the traffic snarls on the Kuranda Range road is about to get the green light.

Mareeba Shire Council officers have recommended approving his application to be allowed to fly 365 days a year from his Koah airstrip to Cairns Airport in light planes, including a World War II Spitfire replica. Their recommendation is despite hefty opposition from neighbours worried about noise, increased air traffic and privacy issues.

A CAIRNS businessman’s plan to commute to work every day from the Tablelands via aeroplane is likely to be approved by Mareeba Shire Council.

English Engineering owner Pat English had applied for council permission late last year to use his private airstrip on his property at Koah, 365 days a year, up from 52.

Mr English, who owns three aircraft – including a World War II-era Spitfire – says he wants to fly to work from the Tablelands to Cairns each day.

The move, however, has been strongly opposed by his neighbours who claim the increased air traffic will interrupt their quiet lifestyles and decrease their privacy.

The council received 182 submissions to the development application (DA), 86 per cent of which were opposed to the proposal. Ahead of the council’s general meeting tomorrow, a planning officer has recommended the application be approved with conditions.

This includes a maximum of six flights permitted on any given day during the week, with a maximum of seven flights allowed a week and a maximum of 12 flights per year for visiting pilots. Mr English is also to be restricted to flight times between 7am to 6pm, Monday to Sunday – except for emergency use – and on a strict flight path in a southerly direction to avoid flying over his neighbours.

He said he did not see any reason why the council would not allow him permission to use his airstrip more regularly.

“It would have been difficult for (the council) to say no to it,” he said. “It hasn’t been approved yet, but I would think this is a reasonably straightforward decision to approve, under the legalities of it.”

Koah resident Sarah Isaacs said it appeared there were errors in the planning officers’ report about noise levels.

Ms Isaacs said she and the majority of locals would be very disappointed if council ignored their concerns.