Wagga councillors demand better deal for airport from Riverina MP
At a Wagga City Council meeting this week, councillors called out Riverina MP Michael McCormack over the lack of federal funding for Wagga Airport.
The Wagga News
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Wagga councillors called on Riverina MP Michael McCormack to make an election commitment for more funding for Wagga Airport at Monday night’s council meeting.
Wagga Airport transports around 225,000 passengers annually; with more than 120 flights from Wagga Wagga to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane each week.
The airport is owned by the federal government and defence force, with Wagga City Council leasing the airport and responsible for services such as security and the terminal and services it provides.
On Monday, councillors demanded more federal funding for the airport and a fairer, and more long-term, lease arrangement.
The council’s current lease expires in 2025 and councillors are seeking a 99-year lease and financial support for security and other upgrades.
Councillor Rod Kendall was highly critical of Mr McCormack’s handling of the lease deal.
“The landlord is responsible for the capital maintenance, our job is to pay the electrical bills and the federal government needs to put the capital investment into the airport,” Mr Kendall said.
“There needs to be an (election) commitment, whoever the candidate is, so we can have a deal that is good for council and government.”
Councillor Dan Hayes said that he could not understand why the Riverina MP had not pushed for a better deal.
“Since joining council I have never understood the federal member not having an issue in not putting the right deal for Wagga Airport,” he said.
“Council needs to find a way to maintain the payment of the lease which is to increase rates, which then will fall back on the ratepayer and should be known as the McCormack tax.”
Councillor Richard Foley said that the federal government should adopt the same approach as they had at Newcastle Airport, which was awarded $55 million in federal funding for a significant upgrade of its passenger terminal in April.
“We need the same commitment they give to Newcastle Airport, a similar situation and we need to see some action,” he said.
However in a statement Mr McCormack said that the government had been adequately funding the airport.
“The Wagga Wagga Airport has received funding through the Federal Government to support its development, including $1,737,000 through the Regional Airports Program to upgrade lighting and $405,000 through the Regional Airport Security Screening Fund to contribute to the cost of purchasing security screening equipment to meet enhanced aviation security requirements,” he stated.
“I fought hard as the Member for Riverina and in my previous capacity as Assistant Minister for Defence to help secure more than $400 million in investment for RAAF Base Wagga as part of the 2016 Defence White Paper.
“I share Wagga Wagga City Council’s vision to improve the facilities at the Wagga Wagga airport, particularly as we aim to grow the city to a population of 100,000 by 2038.
“I am committed to continue working with the Wagga Wagga City Council and other stakeholders to ensure the best outcome for the city and its residents.”
Labor’s candidate for the Riverina, Mark Jefferson, agreed with councillors, and said the airport should be invested in as the “gateway” to the region.
“Council is right in their analysis of it, unfortunately the local member is disinterested in helping Wagga City council get through the issue and helping in terms of getting the right lease,” he said.
“At the end of the day ratepayers will have to pay for the lease where the money could be spent on other local issues.
“It should be the gateway to our great region but instead it is a brick wall and if I am elected I will work with the council to get the right lease so the council can run it.”
Greens candidate Michael Organ has also urged the federal government to do better in terms of investment for the airport.
“I totally support the council; the federal government should commit to a funding upgrade, it is of most strategic importance and why isn’t the government supporting it?” he said.
“We hear Mr McCormack say ‘Wagga is a garrison town’ and the airport is another piece of infrastructure which is out of date and needs more commitment for extra funding.
“The present situation whereby Wagga City Council is forced to fund the airport to the tune of $3m per annum, with no real financial support from the feds, is not sustainable or in the best interests of the wider community.”
Independent Darren Ciavarella was also supportive of the idea of giving more funding to the airport and working closely with the council.
“My opinion I think any upgrade will be wise and in conjunction with the council will help in improving the airport in any way necessary,” Mr Ciavarella said.
“That means advocating for more funding and better work with the department of defence.”
Meanwhile One Nation’s Richard Orchard said he would work with local government and industry to work out the issue with the lease.
“Council has it as one of the top priorities and that means I must make it one of my top priorities if I am elected,” he said.
He added that it was disappointing the airport had not been able to develop to cater for Boeing 737 planes which would have put the Riverina in better stead for the future.
“It seems almost laughable that it has not been developed and not a proper airport,” he said.
The motion of the pledge for candidates to support a new lease for Wagga Airport was supported by all councillors and was passed at Monday’s meeting.
It now falls to the elected candidate to provide the deal best suited for the federal government and council to solve the ongoing lease deal.
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