Despite attendances lower than predicted for Airventure Australia last week, Cessnock City Council says it will continue to support the event.
Held from 20-22 September, AirVenture was held at Cessnock this year for the first time, with organisers predicting up to 10,000 people in attendance. The initial official estimates have the crowd at 2500-3000 people.
Cessnock City Council invested $75,000 in AirVenture: $37,000 on civil works and another $38,000 on facilities such as fences, showers and toilets for the camping area in expectation of up to 150 aircraft overnighting at the airport.
Although the council concedes they could have spent much less money for the turn-out, Cessnock City Council Managing Director Stephen Glen told Australian Flying that they wanted AirVenture back again next year.
"Cessnock City Council is in this for the long run," he said. "We invested in permanent works at the airport and we want it to be used again. We encourage AirVenture to return; we are supportive of the event and want it to grow. There are some ideas we have that we'd like to put up to the organisers for next year."
Glen also said that the main street of Cessnock was the busiest he'd seen it for a long time, and was pleasantly surprised to see "No Vacancy" signs on many of the motels in the city.
Glen also stated that they did not require AirVenture Australia to levy the $10 parking fee that raised the hackles of many who drove to the event, but that a development approval had been needed for the carpark, which would have drawn a fee.
The council is now waiting for audited accounts from AirVenture before preparing a report into the long-term sustainability of the event.
Not everyone who went to AirVenture was as glowing as Cessnock City Council. Some people contacted by Australian Flying said the crowd for the air display was more like 1500-2000 and that the event lacked the community feel of a fly-in and had a more commerical atmosphere.
Feelings between the exhibitors were mixed, ranging from "very happy" to "a waste of time and money".