Warnervale Airport flight restrictions: Planning Minister’s bid to scrap 88-flight limit
The restrictions around the number of flights in and out of Central Coast’s Warnervale Airport could be scrapped following a bid by the Planning Minister. HERE IS WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU.
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Stringent limits on the number of planes in and out of the Central Coast’s Warnervale airport could be scrapped, after NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes called for restrictions to be axed.
Mr Stokes called for the Warnervale Airport Restriction Act — imposed in 1996 to limit take-offs and landings at the regional airport to a total of 88 each day to protect residential communities — to be repealed after a NSW Planning review recommended airport flight restrictions be “removed immediately”.
The government review also recommended owner and operator Central Coast Council develop “clear framework to govern the airport’s future management and address safety issues affecting the runway”.
At the same time, The Express Advocate revealed this month independent air ambulance service, AirMed, has cancelled all flights to the Central Coast, with tall treelines causing a safety hazard for the service at Warnervale Airport.
Mr Stokes argued an overwhelming 75 per cent of submissions to the review supported plans for flight restrictions to be repealed.
“Reviewers agreed, the act was no longer necessary and had no relevance, as it did not alleviate or alay community uncertainty and concern about the future operations of the airport,” he said.
“The future operation at Warnervale Airport needs to be clarified and assured for the Central Coast Community.
“Concern about its operations has dragged on far too long, countless discussion has occured among council and a way forward is long overdue.”
Mr Stokes said it was time for Central Coast Council to put in place a business plan for future operations: “certainty is also crucially needed for the operator of the airport, the Central Coast Aero Club, whos licence expires later this year”.
Central Coast Aero Club chief executive Andrew Smith said the club welcomed calls to repeal the restrictions. The Warnervale Airport Restrictions Act was an unworkable piece of legislation which unfairly burdened both Council and Airport stakeholders, including the Aero Club,” Mr Smith said.
“We would like to sincerely thank Mr Adam Crouch, Member or Terrigal and Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Taylor Martin, Liberal Party MLC and Minister Rob Stokes for the hard work they have put in to effect this fair outcome.
“I would also like to thank the WAR Act reviewers, Abigail Goldberg and Peter Fiegehen for the Professionalism they showed in conducting the independent WAR Act review.”
Mr Smith said it was “entirely clear” that the community both want Warnervale Airport to remain part of the Central Coast, “and that they want it to be operated in a fair and efficient manner”.
“We look forward to moving ahead without this highly restrictive legislation in partnership with Central Coast Council,” he said.
Wyong state Labor MP David Harris and Central Coast Council were contacted for comment.