GANNAWARRA Shire Council is committed to maintaining and developing the district’s two aerodromes.
Council has adopted a development plan that identifies a number of potential options for future development and investment in the Cohuna and Kerang aerodromes.
It has resolved to support development proposals to extend the sealed runways at both aerodromes to meet the needs of users.
The Gannawarra Aerodromes Development Plan, 2016, was unanimously adopted by council on Wednesday.
Council also adopted recommendations to:
• Facilitate the development for new hangars at the both aerodromes;
• Prepare concept plans for the provision of air ambulance patient transfer and toilet facilities at the Cohuna aerodrome and refer for consideration in future capital programs;
• Continue to liaise, as required, with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Ambulance Victoria and other stakeholders to ensure the ongoing compliance and operational suitability of the aerodromes;
• Support development proposals to extend the runways at the aerodromes to meet the needs of users.
Council engaged aviation consultants Dench McClean Carlson last year to consider options for the ongoing and future development of the aerodromes in response to community and business requests for new and improved facilities at both aerodromes following strong recent investment by both council and the Victorian Government at both sites.
However, in a report to council, chief executive officer, Eric Braslis said that in order to provide the rationale for further investment at the aerodromes, and mindful of the challenging financial context provided by rate capping, it was considered prudent to develop an appreciation of the drivers for future development and to quantify the need for such investment.
The Gannawarra Aerodromes Development Plan investigates the following matters:
• The current state and capability of the Kerang and Cohuna Aerodromes including their capacity to accommodate additional operators (private or commercial);
• The impact of the Kerang and Cohuna aerodromes on the local economy;
• The characteristics of airports/aerodromes in the wider region;
• Trends in population, visitation and the general aviation industry that may influence future requirements and usage of the Kerang and Cohuna aerodromes;
• Potential options for the future development of the aerodromes – responding to identified and quantified need for investment.
