Mallacoota: Remote airport to return to pre-existing service levels after community backlash

An East Gippsland airport will be returned to its previous service levels after the community pushed back over a downgrade decision.

East Gippsland Shire has backflipped on a downgrade of Mallacoota airport, which became one of the small town’s most vital assets at the height of the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfire crisis.

Mallacoota was one of six small airports across Australia not to adopt upgraded safety changes mandated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority earlier this year.

It meant weather condition updates and instrument flight procedures were stripped from Mallacoota, leaving pilots unable to make safe landings unless there was fine weather.

The council came under fire from locals, who feared the decision would put lives at risk during medical emergencies.

Mallacoota District Recovery Association secretary Carol Hopkins. Picture: Supplied

This week, council and CASA senior executives held a “constructive and positive meeting” with Mallacoota residents and Gippsland MPs Darren Chester and Tim Bull.

It was decided CASA and council staff would meet as a “matter of urgency” to restore the airport to pre-existing service levels.

“CASA and council expect to be in a position to report back to the community and the aviation sector within two weeks on any further action required, and likely timelines to achieve certification,” a joint statement said.

The Army used Mallacoota airport during the Black Summer bushfires to evacuate residents and tourists stranded in the area. Picture: David Caird

In the wake of the devastating fires, Mallacoota District Recovery Association was formed and its secretary Carol Hopkins welcomed the change of heart.

“The airport is such a key thing in our community,” she said.

“There is no airport between Marlo and Merimbula apart from ours, so that covers a large geographic area.

“We are always stretched medically in Mallacoota, we don’t have a hospital.

“We rely heavily on the airport to get people in and out for treatment and emergencies.

“In an emergency, we only have one windy road out and after the bushfires we were totally reliant on ships, planes and helicopters.”

The road between Genoa and Mallacoota was shut for more than a month during and after the Black Summer fires.

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The bushfire-ravaged Victorian town of Mallacoota has had its wings clipped, with locals fearing a downgrading of the local airport could put lives at risk in the event of medical emergencies.

The airport that services the remote East Gippsland coastal town — battered by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20 — is one of six in Australia not to adopt recent safety changes required by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

The airport is owned by East Gippsland Shire, which elected not to meet new certification requirements that would allow pilots to continue receiving weather condition updates and use instrument flight procedures to ensure safe landings.

Mt Beauty’s John Hillard volunteers with Angel Flight. Picture: Kirrily Carberry

The council baulked at costs to upgrade and maintain existing airport infrastructure and surrounds required for the changes. CASA confirmed no infrastructure changes were required as part of the “transition process”.

“Of 350 airports affected across Australia, only six elected not to adopt the new rules and maintain their certification,” a CASA spokesman said.

East Gippsland mayor Mark Reeves said council would be initially calling on the Federal Government to lobby CASA to reverse the changes required.

“It’s an outbreak of bureaucratic nonsense,” he said. “We would love it if the Federal Government said ‘here is whatever millions of dollars it costs to upgrade it’. But then the precedent is set for every regional and rural airfield that the Federal Government would have to fund.”

John Hillard, a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight, said residents being forced to initially travel by road for two hours to the nearest hospital at Orbost, rather than by air to a capital city, would suffer the most from the changes.

“If you’ve had a stroke or serious medical issue, that’s the difference between life and death,” he said. “If you live in Mallacoota you’re wanting to go to Canberra or Essendon (airports).

“Some of these people are being picked up once a week due to the frequency of their treatment. It’s the difference between a six-hour drive to Melbourne or an hour and a half in a light aircraft.”

Last financial year Angel Flight conducted 100 flights to and from Mallacoota and pilots will only be able to use the facility in good flying conditions following the downgrade.

The Army used Mallacoota airport during the Black Summer bushfires to evacuate residents and tourists stranded in the area. Picture: David Caird

Mr Hillard said the council’s response was flawed.

“They’ve set themselves up to fail,” he said. “They are going to ask CASA to do something that CASA won’t do.”

The other airports affected by the changes are in Western Australia, Queensland and NSW and include mining sites.

Gippsland East MP Tim Bull said: “It’s disappointing when the council advises that multi million dollar upgrades are required and CASA clearly states that is not the case.

“Someone is not telling the truth.”