Central Coast Airport plans to be viewed and assessed by council
CENTRAL Coast Council will view the controversial Warnervale Airport masterplan and determine whether it will be released to the public next month.
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The scale, scope and future of the Central Coast Airport at Warnervale will be reassessed by the new Central Coast Council after Mayor Jane Smith ordered a stop to any physical work or planning behind the scenes on the project.
“It would be appropriate for this new council to review and reconsider the direction that the Central Coast Airport is taking,” Mayor Jane Smith said.
Secrecy shrouded the former Wyong Shire Council’s plans for the airport with confidential reports, including a detailed masterplan kept for staff eyes only.
The Central Coast Council’s will to forge ahead with a “general aviation industry hub” and “small regional airport” was criticised by both the NSW Government, which did not include the airport in its own regional plan for the Central Coast, as well as many local residents.
In August, any expansion plans for the airport suffered a further blow when NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts refused to repeal the Warnervale Airport Restrictions Act. Under the new council, the masterplan could be released to the public for the first time.
Councillors have voted first to examine the plan themselves and then will determine whether it will be placed on public exhibition.
The decision on the airport’s future was raised by Cr Smith within a mayoral minute at Monday night’s council meeting.
“This council has continued to spend funds to clear native vegetation and build assets such as roads, runways, buildings, a flood levee, fencing and security cameras in and around the airport,” said Cr Smith
“In addition, an airport manager was employed and expressions of interest called to develop the airport. There are also substantial other expenses such as planning, advertising, staff time and legal and planning consultants.” The only current works at the site relate to maintenance, however those works will continue.
Cr Smith said there was genuine community interest in ensuring the future development of the site met the needs of the Central Coast now and in the future.
“In the interests of openness and transparency I believe we need to understand where the plans are up to so we can make realistic and lasting decisions about the future of the site,” she said. The council also requested a briefing on options for the airport from the NSW Planning Department.
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