The council planned a $5 million reconstruction and 200m extension to the runway to service Deniliquin and district’s needs, but works will only see the runway reconstructed at the same length to improve its condition.
Half of the original figure was granted by the Federal Government on the term that the $2.5 million contribution is matched by other funding avenues, and the grant used within the year.
Council reported a “verbal promise” made by Deputy Premier John Barilaro to deliver the other $2.5 million on behalf of the state, but the council’s attempts to contact Mr Barilaro have gone unanswered for months.
At its ordinary meeting on Thursday last week, council adopted a recommendation to scale back the proposal to a $3.5 million project, with the council considering two possible outcomes based on consultation with the Federal Government: it will attempt to secure the full $2.5 million commitment while council contributes about $1 million.
If the Commonwealth only agrees to the original terms of the 50-50 funding arrangement, ERC will consider taking out a $1.75million loan over 2021-23.
It is in Edward River Council’s interest to ‘‘spend the least amount of its own funds as possible’’ according to the reasoning behind the recommendation, since its annual budget only breaks even when grant money is not factored in.
Cr Peter McCrabb raised concerns about the council’s ability to pay back a loan upward of $1 million.
“We’re not in a position to borrow money and we’re not going to make money from this — I’m happy to do it (take out a loan) if we make money,” Cr McCrabb said.
He said regional airports “always” ran at a loss.
“It was going to be a $5 million project which would cost council nothing,” he said.NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton questioned the state government on the funding in May, which received a non-committal response from Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole on June 9.
‘‘Questions relating to the administration of regional aviation should be directed to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional New South Wales, Industry and Trade (John Barilaro),’’ Minister Toole said in reply.
Mrs Dalton expressed Mr Barilaro was difficult to reach as he has been preoccupied in legal contests over the past few months.
She added the runway could be ‘‘condemned’’ if it was not restored.
In council’s new plan, the runway will be stabilised and a new surface reconstructed, then finished with a 200mm-thick base pavement and bitumen seal to improve its pavement classification number.
PCNs denote the strength of a runway and are one factor in determining the size of aircraft which can land there.
Deniliquin Airport’s 1200m runway has a PCN of ‘‘about 4’’ according to Mayor Norm Brennan; with this redevelopment, council hopes to boost it to a PCN of 15 or 20 to maintain and grow access for planes landing at the air strip into the future — but the difference in range is up to the funding it is able to secure with its new plan.
Cr Brennan said either rating would make a ‘‘significant improvement’’ to the state of the “old and decrepit” runway.
“We’re trying to find a way forward because of the reneg of the state government on the verbal funding agreement,” Cr Brennan said.
Councillor Ashley Hall said comments from “experienced” users of the airport facilities said “20 (PCN) would be the long term way to go,” but that had to fit into the financial plan while balancing the runway’s longevity.
“It’s a facility that the next generation will be able to use as well,” Cr Hall said.
Director of Infrastructure Mark Dalzell informed council the airport already gives “one-off” exemptions to aircraft of a classification up to 10 — usually around the time of the Ute Muster, when “larger acts”, mainly musicians, are flown into town, and pointing to a need to maintain the runway to sustain Deniliquin’s largest tourism draw.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority under the Australian Government does not have specific guidelines for the impact an aircraft with a higher aircraft classification number landing on a runway with a lower PCN, but stated in a February project report, “when the ACN of the aircraft is greater than the PCN of the pavement, the pavement is being overloaded”.
Council’s project outline calls the upgrades ‘‘essential to providing the region with air access to medical facilities and will assist in aerial firefighting in the event of serious bush and grass fires’’.
The air ambulance and fire services are still able to land on the current runway, but without maintenance its state could further degrade.
Deputy Mayor Pat Fogarty said an operational airport is an “essential service” particularly in the case of bushfires.
“We need to be able to get air ambulances in here efficiently and effectively.
“It’s the closest airport to the forest and this is the only facility that would be able to accommodate sufficient aircraft to extinguish that fire,” Cr Fogarty said.
