The Australian Airports Association (AAA) has called for reduced regulation to cover Australia's smaller privatised airports, particularly the capital city Class D airports.
The call is contained in the AAA's Airport Industry Policy Priorities document released this week.
"A number of smaller general aviation privatised airports (specifically Jandakot, Bankstown, Moorabbin, Essendon, Archerfield and Parafield airports) have less and human resource capability than the major airports," the paper contends.
"This makes it particularly difficult for these airports to meet the regulatory requirements for privatised airports regarding community consultation, Master Planning and Major Development Plans (MDPs).
"Therefore, the AAA recommends the regulatory requirements for these airports be reduced and tailored to the individual community's and airport's needs as opposed to delivering a one-size-fits-all approach."
According to the AAA, the time taken for development plans to come to fruition is onerous. Privatised airports are required to submit five-year Master Plans and MDPs to the Minister for approval, and the AAA thinks the process takes too long and in some cases can impede development.
"Currently the MDP process for all privatised airports takes approximately nine to ten months from design to major approval," the paper says. "The length of this process acts as a major commercial impediment to doing business on airport land for airports of all sizes.
"Often, potential tenants will find alternative locations under state government or local government planning jurisdiction, because the time line for approvals is significantly shorter.
"For most state and local governments across Australia, public consultation timeframes are between 21 and 28 days as opposed to 60."
Recommendatons for the Class D privatised airports include:
- Community consultation requirements be tailored to suit each airport
- Master plans to deliver content tailored to individual airports
- Master plans to cover eight years instead of the current five years
- Public consultation time for an MDP to be 21-28 days.
The full AAA policy paper can be downloaded from their website here.