Aerodrome offer gets tick
Regional airstrip land to be leased by the council
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.