[Peetwo]

Ref: https://auntypru.com/sbg-12-07-20-is-thi...r-despair/

SAVE OUR AIRPORTS!

Via AOPA Oz...  

AOPA AUSTRALIA CALLS FOR ACTION ON PRIVATISED AIRPORTS
July 3, 2020 By Benjamin Morgan

AOPA Australia CEO Benjamin Morgan


3rd July 2020


The Hon Michael McCormack MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport

PO BOX 6022, House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Loss of Further Aviation Facilities, Land-Space and Resources:  Moorabbin Airport

Deputy Prime Minister,

I write to you on behalf of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia (AOPA Australia) seeking to highlight the further loss of aviation facilities, land-space and resources at Moorabbin Airport in Victoria – all making way for more non-aviation commercial and industrial development (see page 3).

News has broken this past week that the privatised airport operator has moved to further reduce the aviation facilities footprint at the airport, to make way for more non-aviation development.  Developments that neither promote aviation or serve to provide investment into aviation – but ultimately place aviation at risk.
Non-aviation developments at Australia’s airports in many cases represent significant risks to aviation safety (as graphically and tragically demonstrated at Essendon Airport) and have served to drive-up airport real-estate valuations to record levels that are now unsustainable for aviation participants.

Minister, the Australian public were told by our government that the purpose of airport privatisation was to attract investment into airports and aviation, yet despite this assurance, the vast majority of investment at Australia’s privatised airports continues to be non-aviation.

The limited investment that has been made into aviation-use facilities at Moorabbin Airport pales in comparison with that of non-aviation land-developments, which is without doubt the primary goal and focus of the property developers who are masquerading as airport operators.

Privatisation has been destructive to small to medium sized aviation enterprise, exposing our fragile general aviation sectors to unsustainable increases in access costs.  This situation has also impacted Australia’s regional, domestic and international airlines, whom have all called for Government intervention – yet there has been none.

The aviation industry for over a decade has highlighted the many abuses, yet they have been ignored.  The industry associations and peak-bodies have called on Government to protect our fragile aviation infrastructure, yet we have been ignored too.

Exactly, how bad does the situation need to get before our Government takes appropriate action?  Or is it this Governments intention to allow the slow but determined destruction of our airport infrastructure and our aviation business communities?

AOPA Australia is requesting an urgent meeting with yourself to discuss the above and is seeking to understand what the Government intends on doing to remedy the situation.

Given COVID-19 restrictions, we shall be more than happy to participate in a video conference call.  Thank you for your time and I look forward to your reply.

Yours Sincerely,

BENJAMIN MORGAN
Chief Executive Officer

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia (AOPA Australia)
Hangar 600, Prentice Street, Bankstown Airport NSW 2200 Australia.
PO BOX 26, Georges Hall NSW 2198 Australia.

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Plus;


LIVE PANEL DISCUSSION - MON 13TH JULY 2020 - 6PM

IMPACTS OF AIRPORT PRIVATISATION ON AVIATION

Join us for an open and candid conversation about the impacts of airport privatisation on Australia's recreational, general and commercial aviation sectors, and how the future of aviation is at risk without Government action.

Mr Benjamin Morgan
AOPA Australia CEO

Mr Simon McDermott
McDermott Aviation Group

Mr Ken Cannane
AMROBA Executive Director

Mr David Young
Azimuth Partners Managing Director

Join the conversation from 6pm tonight and submit your comments and questions LIVE.

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Join today: www.aopa.com.au/membership

AOPA Australia | Your Freedom to Fly

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