AOPA Oz continues the good fight on Airports - 
Via AOPA Oz:
LISMORE AVIATORS CALL ON AOPA AUSTRALIA FOR HELP, FACING UNSUSTAINABLE INCREASES IN AIRPORT FEES
August 18, 2021 By Benjamin Morgan
![[Image: Lismore-1000x500.jpg]](https://aopa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Lismore-1000x500.jpg)
Local aviators at Lismore Airport have called on AOPA Australia for assistance, following a move by the Lismore City Council to introduce large increases in user fees for aircraft based at the airport, along with those visiting.
Council has moved to remove all annual agreements for locally based aircraft, instead imposing a per-tonne movement fee. Council will monitor aircraft movements by way of runway cameras and will handle all invoicing and payment collecting in-house.
The new charges come as a result of a $840,000 operating deficit by Council.
“AOPA Australia has met with local aviation representatives to learn more about the situation and is concerned that the new fees will drive aircraft owners and businesses away from the airport.”, AOPA Australia CEO, Benjamin Morgan.
“The new Council fees will result in significant cost increases for locally based aircraft, with the AeroClub, local flight training provider and maintenance businesses all feeling the brunt.
“To illustrate the impact of these new fees, one locally operated Beechcraft Baron will see an increase from $700 annually to in excess of $15,000 in user fees – an unsustainable increase.
“AOPA Australia is concerned that Council may be exposing itself to an unintended outcome, whereby it’s costs of imposing, monitoring and recovering the new fee structure, will exceed the value of the fees charged and collected.
“Lismore Airport is an invaluable asset that provides enormous value and amenity to both the local community and to the region. It is an important gateway for tourism, trade and commerce, along with being an essential staging point for emergency services, including air ambulance, police and fire.
“A strong and vibrant local aviation community is essential to ensuring the long-term success for community airports, requiring a carefully managed balance in fees and charges to be sustainable.
“AOPA Australia has written to the Lismore City Council seeking a meeting to discuss our concerns, and we are hopeful that we can work together to achieve a positive outcome for everyone.”, he said.
Plus:
MORETON BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL MOVES TO EVICT AVIATION TENNANTS, CONVERTING HANGARS FOR COMMUNITY ARTS, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL USE
August 19, 2021 By Benjamin Morgan
![[Image: redcliffe.jpg]](https://aopa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/redcliffe.jpg)
AOPA Australia has today confirmed that a number of aviation tenants at Redcliffe Airport in Queensland have been given notice of eviction, following a decision by the Moreton Bay Regional Council to convert their aviation facilities into non-aviation storage for community artistic, social and cultural use.
AOPA Australia believes the evictions to be an aggressive act of reprisal, following determined advocacy by the local aviation community to call out excessive over-charging of aviation property leaseholds at the airport site by Council.
The hangars in question are currently home to eight local aircraft, who must now vacate the aviation properties, so that Council may convert them to non-aviation use. The hangars are located airside of the aerodrome security fencing.
The move to convert hangars to non-aviation use, boldly contradicts Council requirements forced on leaseholders, mandating that aviation property be used exclusively for aviation, informing leaseholders that it was a requirement of the Planning Act.
“The association is genuinely concerned with the evictions and has today written to the Moreton Bay Regional Council, calling for an urgent meeting with the Mayor and Chief Executive seeking the evictions to be rescinded.”, AOPA Australia CEO, Mr Benjamin Morgan.
“I have today spoken with key representatives of the Redcliffe Airport Chamber of Commerce to discuss the situation and to affirm our full and complete support.
“It is essential that airports be available to aviation users as a priority, with the interests and objectives of aviation standing above any non-aviation use that council has proposed.
“Aviation businesses and aircraft cannot be stored or operated from local council depots, community halls, parks, sporting ovals, public pools, libraries or any other community property in the Moreton Bay region – they exclusively require airports.
“Non-aviation community arts, social and cultural items that require storage, are capable of being located in a vast number of compatible locations, seeking to displace aviation users from the airport is simply not an appropriate action by Council.
“AOPA Australia has today written to the Queensland Premier, requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the situation.”, he said.
MTF...P2
Via AOPA Oz:
LISMORE AVIATORS CALL ON AOPA AUSTRALIA FOR HELP, FACING UNSUSTAINABLE INCREASES IN AIRPORT FEES
August 18, 2021 By Benjamin Morgan
Local aviators at Lismore Airport have called on AOPA Australia for assistance, following a move by the Lismore City Council to introduce large increases in user fees for aircraft based at the airport, along with those visiting.
Council has moved to remove all annual agreements for locally based aircraft, instead imposing a per-tonne movement fee. Council will monitor aircraft movements by way of runway cameras and will handle all invoicing and payment collecting in-house.
The new charges come as a result of a $840,000 operating deficit by Council.
“AOPA Australia has met with local aviation representatives to learn more about the situation and is concerned that the new fees will drive aircraft owners and businesses away from the airport.”, AOPA Australia CEO, Benjamin Morgan.
“The new Council fees will result in significant cost increases for locally based aircraft, with the AeroClub, local flight training provider and maintenance businesses all feeling the brunt.
“To illustrate the impact of these new fees, one locally operated Beechcraft Baron will see an increase from $700 annually to in excess of $15,000 in user fees – an unsustainable increase.
“AOPA Australia is concerned that Council may be exposing itself to an unintended outcome, whereby it’s costs of imposing, monitoring and recovering the new fee structure, will exceed the value of the fees charged and collected.
“Lismore Airport is an invaluable asset that provides enormous value and amenity to both the local community and to the region. It is an important gateway for tourism, trade and commerce, along with being an essential staging point for emergency services, including air ambulance, police and fire.
“A strong and vibrant local aviation community is essential to ensuring the long-term success for community airports, requiring a carefully managed balance in fees and charges to be sustainable.
“AOPA Australia has written to the Lismore City Council seeking a meeting to discuss our concerns, and we are hopeful that we can work together to achieve a positive outcome for everyone.”, he said.
Plus:
MORETON BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL MOVES TO EVICT AVIATION TENNANTS, CONVERTING HANGARS FOR COMMUNITY ARTS, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL USE
August 19, 2021 By Benjamin Morgan
AOPA Australia has today confirmed that a number of aviation tenants at Redcliffe Airport in Queensland have been given notice of eviction, following a decision by the Moreton Bay Regional Council to convert their aviation facilities into non-aviation storage for community artistic, social and cultural use.
AOPA Australia believes the evictions to be an aggressive act of reprisal, following determined advocacy by the local aviation community to call out excessive over-charging of aviation property leaseholds at the airport site by Council.
The hangars in question are currently home to eight local aircraft, who must now vacate the aviation properties, so that Council may convert them to non-aviation use. The hangars are located airside of the aerodrome security fencing.
The move to convert hangars to non-aviation use, boldly contradicts Council requirements forced on leaseholders, mandating that aviation property be used exclusively for aviation, informing leaseholders that it was a requirement of the Planning Act.
“The association is genuinely concerned with the evictions and has today written to the Moreton Bay Regional Council, calling for an urgent meeting with the Mayor and Chief Executive seeking the evictions to be rescinded.”, AOPA Australia CEO, Mr Benjamin Morgan.
“I have today spoken with key representatives of the Redcliffe Airport Chamber of Commerce to discuss the situation and to affirm our full and complete support.
“It is essential that airports be available to aviation users as a priority, with the interests and objectives of aviation standing above any non-aviation use that council has proposed.
“Aviation businesses and aircraft cannot be stored or operated from local council depots, community halls, parks, sporting ovals, public pools, libraries or any other community property in the Moreton Bay region – they exclusively require airports.
“Non-aviation community arts, social and cultural items that require storage, are capable of being located in a vast number of compatible locations, seeking to displace aviation users from the airport is simply not an appropriate action by Council.
“AOPA Australia has today written to the Queensland Premier, requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the situation.”, he said.
MTF...P2