Narrabri Airport is set for a major makeover, after a revised plan was adopted by Narrabri Shire Council on Tuesday at its monthly meeting.
Director of Planning, Paul Bawden, presented a timeline for a staged upgrade, which includes a hardened runway, second taxiway leading to the Aero Club building, to be potentially used for charter passengers, upgrade of the main apron and cosmetic work to the existing airport terminal.
Passengers could see works completed as early as June next year.
Revisions to the master plan for Narrabri Airport upgrade, adopted at Tuesday’s council meeting, will save the shire council an estimated $2 million, and see work soon begin.
The council commissioned a review of the original master plan, which was adopted in 2011, in the light of new trends and additional information.
A revamp of the original plans would mean that the main runway would not need to be lengthened in the near future.
“It will not need to be lengthened, but it will need to be hardened,” said the mayor Cr Conrad Bolton.
A strengthened runway will allow the capability of the airport to take much larger aircraft on a regular basis.
The director of planning, Paul Bawden, said significant work could be achieved at the airport by June next year.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, Mr Bawden presented a timeline for the staged upgrade which includes the hardened runway, a second taxiway leading to the Aero Club club house, which may be used for charter passengers, upgrade of the main apron, significant improvements to lighting and cosmetic work on the existing airport terminal.
A new, larger terminal is planned to be located on the eastern side of the current airport car park further into the staged development.
“Council did not want to undertake major work on the present terminal when it will be superseded in the future,” said the Cr Bolton.
The mayor said the airport upgrade work on the apron and taxiways would be undertaken in a way that did not impact on any aircraft movements.
The revised plan for Narrabri Airport expands and modifies some elements of the original master plan.
Ultimately, existing buildings and hangars will be relocated, a large area capable of accommodating aircraft up to large jet size will be included and vehicle parking areas greatly expanded.
The program of proposed works adopted by the council will see the current aircraft refuelling system changed and future fuelling provided by a tanker.
A Rural Fire Service (RFS) depot will be built at the airport.
Council was told grant funds had been obtained by the RFS for the depot and work should be starting soon.
Santos has recently donated two 300,000 litre water tanks to the airport which have already been installed and will be used for RFS ‘water bombers.’
Narrabri Shire Council is anticipating that Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) funds from Whitehaven Coal, due to become available following the approval of the Maules Creek mine, or Resources for Regions money from the NSW government, will pay for the airport work.
The council had approved borrowings of $5,040,000 for the airport upgrade in this financial year.
“Council has a VPA agreement with Maules Creek Coal (Whitehaven) of $5 million as a contribution to the airport,” said the shire’s corporate services director, Paul Wearne.
Council planned to borrow the funds with the intent to use the $5 million VPA money to pay off the loan.
The agreement was for $1 million per year to council after final approval was given for the Maules Creek mine.
“And additionally, council has applied for $6.5 million in funding from the Royalties for Regions program for the airport,” Mr Wearne said.
Successful applicants will be announced in mid September.
“If council secures that funding it may seek approval to use the Maules Creek VPA funds for other purposes, possibly to retire debt.
“That would be subject to negotiations with the mine.”