Mornington Peninsula Shire starts Tyabb Airfield re-plan amid claims of conspiracy
Tyabb Airfield has been a battleground since landlords were told permits allowing them to operate there could not be found. Now it turns out there were never any permits to begin with, and plans to “reset” the airfield have sparked fears of its demise.
South East
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A busy regional airport that has been operating without the right permit for 47 years is finally being brought into line.
Mornington Peninsula Shire says it wants to bring “clarity and certainty” to the future of Tyabb Airfield which, under existing approvals – granted in 1972 – is meant to operate only as an authorised landing ground.
It does not have approval to operate as an airport, airfield, flying school, transport terminal (including a heliport) or as a major sports and recreational facility.
The airport’s second landing strip, which is 600m long, unsealed and runs east to west, was also not approved.
Mornington Peninsula mayor Sam Hearn said a planning scheme amendment would allow the airfield to “re-set”.
“It is the beginning of a process and there will be a lot of time for everyone to express what they think,” Cr Hearn said.
Prior to Monday night’s planning meeting the Peninsula Aero Club called on supporters of the airfield to “pack the gallery” to demonstrate their concerns about the process.
The PAC, which clashed with the council last year about the event permit for the 2020 Tyabb Airshow, said the amendment would “severely limit and restrict the airport’s operations”.
Airfield supporter Paul Mercurio said the move was a bid to ultimately close the airport.
In a letter to councillors he said: “If you agree to this amendment you will be signing the death warrant to the Tyabb Airfield”.
Despite a gallery full of airport supporters, the meeting was calm.
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of getting the ball rolling on the planning amendment.
Unlike other regional airports, which are owned by a single entity or a council, Tyabb Airfield has 43 different owners.
The Peninsula Aero Club is the primary owner, with control of the runway, taxi ways and clubrooms plus a number of aircraft hangars.
The remaining landowners have hangars at the site which are held on separate strata titles.
Helicopter Resources, which has a fleet of 25, has been operating from the airfield since 1970.
Victoria’s first helicopter ambulance service – The Angels of Mercy – also uses the airfield along with Police Airwing, Air Ambulance and the CFA.
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There are 180 aircraft based at Tyabb and 140 are hangared there.
Cr Hearn said the “unique history and ownership structure” of the airport made it challenging for the council to come up with appropriate planning controls.
“But under the planning amendment process we can have an expert panel involved as well as the Planning Minister to help ensure there are no gaps.”