The instalment of airport fees and charges will be a hot topic at Wagga’s first council meeting for the year, with residents labelling the move as “just plain dumb”.
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The proposal regarding landing and parking fees at Wagga Airport caused contention across the city, following November’s ordinary council meeting, when the ruling was made.
Under the proposed parking fees, visiting fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft could be hit with fees of up to $9.68 per day, per tonne.
It is a move that former Lockhart Shire councillor and pilot Jim Morgan last year labelled “diabolical”.
Mr Morgan said he supported the proposed reinstatement of landing fees and other costs but not the proposed visitor parking fees.
Former Wagga City Aero Club president John Smith said the decision would hurt aviation tourism, with out-of-town pilots preferring alternative regional airports that didn’t have parking fees.
He said people had the opinion plane owners were rich, but he said that was not always the case.
“This is some bureaucratic money grab and lacking in thought,” Mr Smith said. “We understand there are maintenance costs but airports are like highways coming into town … they are not cash cows.”
His words come ahead of a peaceful protest on Thursday morning, when a sea plane will land on Lake Albert at 11am.
“The plane can stay on the lake for as long as it likes,” Mr Smith said.
“And council provides similar facilities for caravans and boats, where they can stay for free … why is the airport any different?”
In the initial proposal, council said fees and charges collected from users of the airport would provide the funds needed to maintain and operate the airport.
But Mr Smith argued government grants often provided funds for the airport’s upkeep.
He and other members of the Wagga City Aero Club would be in attendance at Monday’s ordinary council meeting.
Other items on the agenda include heavy vehicle access at the Livestock Marketing Centre, improvements to youth engagement and amendments to the corporate purchase card policy.
Councillors will also discuss amendments to its Asbestos Policy, enabling Gregadoo Waste Management Centre to accept friable, loose fill, and asbestos laden materials.
