Representatives of four Australian GA organisations made presentations to a NSW Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) on Thursday 15 March, defending Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome against the proposed development of an aged-care facility and sale of 25 residential allotments just 90 metres from the main runway.
Andrew Andersen, Vice-President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Steve Tizzard, CEO of Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) and representative of the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs (RFACA), and Kim Rolph-Smith, President of Warbirds Australia, provided the panel members with information about the importance of general aviation to the local community and Australian economy.
The group’s presentations focused on the risks to operational safety and the threat posed to the aerodrome's ongoing viability by the proposed non-aviation developments.
"We welcome the opportunity to cooperate with our colleagues on this common goal", said Andersen. "Along with our friends at RAAus, Warbirds and RFACA, AOPA is strongly committed to the defence of our airports. Communities everywhere should be wary of this type of land-grab".
The group made the very strong point that as CASA does not regulate aerodromes that are neither certified nor registered, the JRPP was effectively making a decision about aviation safety.
Tizzard and Rolph-Smith both emphasized the risk posed by runway excursions to the proposed aged-care facility, which is intended to be just 90 meters from the principal into-wind runway, making abnormal operations more difficult
The Richmond Valley Council planner responsible for the matter indicated that a risk assessment had not been performed in relation to the development.
Regardless of the group’s advice, the JRPP approved the development, but with conditions that will prevent future objections by landholders to continued aviation activities at the airport.
Although disappointed by the JRPP’s decision, the representatives were encouraged by the inclusion of conditions on the approval and agreed to continue to work together in future to protect critical aviation infrastructure.
The associations will closely monitor the outcome at Evans Head for compliance with the required conditions set by the JRPP.