The Australian Airports Association (AAA) has said the NSW government lacks commitment to several key proposal arising out of an inquiry into regional aviation services in that state.
Although the inquiry report was tabled on 23 October last year, the NSW government reserved its response until 9 March. Of the 21 recommendations, the government supported 10, supported seven in principle, noted two and rejected two.
"Rather than in principle support, the AAA believes that a firm commitment needs to be made to develop on-going funding arrangements for the continued maintenance of aerodromes across NSW," an AAA media released states.
"While the NSW Regional Infrastructure Tourism Fund has been a very welcome avenue for airports to pursue funding for capital investment in infrastructure, there needs to be sustainable, on-going, airport specific funding arrangements in place.
"Without a means of State and or Federal Government funding, regional aerodromes are having to compete with many other essential services and facilities managed by local councils, for funding from a typically small pool of discretionary capital. This competition for funding creates the risk of regional aerodromes becoming stranded assets; further isolating small regional communities."
Recommendations coming out of the inquiry included a call for the NSW government to bring regulatory burdens to the attention of Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Services, Warren Truss; that the NSW government specifically state that regional aviation services are vital to the state, and for Transport NSW to discuss with local councils if a regulated route is preferable to a deregulated route.
The NSW government flatly rejected the recommendation to set up a regional aviation taskforce, stating that Transport NSW already has a framework for planning services to remote communities.
"The AAA is disappointed that the NSW Government has explicitly not supported the recommendation for a regional aviation taskforce to be established to consider and progress the key recommendations arising from this Inquiry," the AAA statement continues.
"The AAA believes that it is important that a clear process be established for progressing the recommendations and that industry is adequately consulted and included in the implementation process. The AAA does not want to see the important work of this Inquiry ignored at the expense of regional aviation; it is imperative that we continue to ensure regional Australia remains economically and socially connected to the rest of the country through aviation services."
The report and government response is available on the Parliament of NSW website.