Aircraft Owners and Pilots Caloundra has responded to the Sunshine Coast Council’s draft Master Plan, saying the plan is trying to turn Caloundra into a regional airport.
Compiled by Derek Townsend, the submission rejects several proposals put forward by the draft Master Plan, including the potential to extend one runway and the value of the leaseholds. It also claims the council has overestimated the potential income streams.
According to the submission, the draft Master Plan is “deficient because it fails to address requirements for recreational needs, emergency services [and] usage as a secondary facility.”
“This plan is structured more on the requirements of a regional RPT airport than a local airport,” the submission claims. “The area already has a regional RPT airport at Maroochydore.
“The importance of recreational usage, training and emergency services has been overlooked.”
The objections sent to council include the current lease arrangements, which the owners believe “do not reflect the value for the usage of the reserved airport space.”
“At leasing rates of the order of $22/m2/annum/lot size, Caloundra could be considered ‘high rise’ cost for a commercial plan. This is disproportionate for the offering.”
Instead, the owners’ submission highlights the case of Coffs Harbour, a regional airport, where leases are valued at $5.53/m2/annum/ floor space.
One of the main development target put forward by the council is to reserve land to ensure runway 05/23 could be extended to take aircraft with heavier payloads. The assertion is that the ability to land heavier planes would expand potential for operators. The local pilots see this as meaningless.
“Extension of runways are not warranted,” their submission says, “since such extensions are unlikely to generate any significant benefit or financial return.”
It is also noted that any extension to accommodate heavier aircraft would also mean an increase in runway width, and that the concept was also likely to attract noise complaints from nearby residents, something the local aircraft owners would be keen to avoid.
Caloundra owners and pilots have proposed revising the plan to include:
- Support for growth in emergency services usage
- A structure that supports low-cost hangars
- Attractive leases relevant to land usage
- No parking or landing fees
- Investment incentives
- Action to curb the down-turn in maintenance activities
The submission has the support of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
The draft Master Plan can be downloaded from the Sunshine Coast Council website here.