By JO HARRISON
APPLYING for funding in round five of the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) is on the agenda for Guyra Mayor Hans Heitbrink, who last week was appointed interim chairman of the Armidale Airport Users Advisory Group.
A large number of regional stakeholders were invited by Armidale Dumaresq Council to discuss the proposal to form an airport users group. It was decided that the group would be made up of one representative from each of the stakeholder groups.
They include the University of New England, the business community, travel agents, airport tenants and regional mayors.
“The purpose of the group is to seek input from the different stakeholders and provide feedback to Armidale Dumaresq Council so that they can provide better services through the airport,” Mayor Heitbrink said.
“A combined lobby group is the best way to describe its purpose.
“If Armidale Dumaresq Council approaches the government, federal or state for funding, that doesn’t have nearly as much clout that it would have if it comes from the whole region with input from a number of stakeholders.”
Armidale Dumaresq Councillor Andrew Murat has been instrumental in refocusing the council’s energies into the development of the Armidale Airport to allow larger aircraft to use the facility.
“Earlier this year we pushed for round four of RDAF funding for the airport instead of the redevelopment of the library,” Cr Murat said.
“We did this as we have $2.7 million in the Airport Reserve Fund, so in a grant we can match it dollar for dollar, whereas for the library we would have needed to borrow money and therefore increase rates to pay for it.”
The council was unsuccessful in securing round four RDAF funding, with feedback indicating that the applications did not focus on a broader regional support from other councils.
Earlier this year Mayor Jim Maher put forward a mayoral minute for improvements to the Armidale Airport. Cr Murat seconded the mayoral minute on the condition that an airport users group be formed. The mayoral minute was passed.
“The Airport Users Group has three core functions – to advise council on what needs to be done at the airport, support council as an independent body to apply for grants and lastly if the council are to put in oppressive things like stupidly high-paid parking then the committee would step in,” Cr Murat said.
It was made clear at the meeting last week that this was not a council committee. It was emphasised that the group needed to be independent of Armidale Dumaresq Council.
“The lobbying function of this group will be important,” Cr Murat said.
“They may well look at lobbying some other airlines to get a Sydney to Brisbane service in and they can do things that the council can’t do because we own the airport.”
