New Aerodrome Master Plan spells big development for Hay
By Tertia Butcher - Editor
Industrial land, freight movement and housing development are all included in Hay Shire Council’s updated Aerodrome Master Plan.
The plan is now ready for community consultation and also includes general aviation and biodiversity offsets.
General Manager, David Webb said Hay Aerodrome has significant potential and opportunities.
The masterplan, developed by Council staff, lists these in detail.
“The Master Plan establishes a vision for the use of Hay Aerodrome for the next 20 years and identifies the unique opportunity aviation can provide for the Hay Local Government Area,” Mr Webb noted.
“The vision links to being a complementary facility to the larger regional airports and providing more scope to general aviation and freight to ensure accessibility for people and services within the regions.”
Council envisages the aerodrome would attract freight facilities to the area, support the growth of general aviation for recreation and sporting events, and support emergency and charter services for the region.
The proposed aero residential estate will provide housing blocks with vehicular road access as well as taxiway access and will be of sufficient size to allow the construction of a hangar at the back with gravel taxiway access.
The development will have access off Sturt Highway, stringent building control so as to guarantee the safety of the aerodrome and of sufficient size to accommodate an onsite sewer management system.
It is proposed the aviation and freight precinct will be off Cobb Highway, to be developed on an area currently underutilised.
The planned extension for the runway will be 2300m x 45m which will enable access for jet aircraft. The current runway is 1463m x 30m.
“The Aerodrome Masterplan has far-reaching and financially significant implications,” Mr Webb said. “It is envisaged that it will be externally funded.”
The draft plan is on public exhibition until February 13 after which a further report will be brought back before Council.
The aerodrome is centrally located in relation to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide and is adjacent to the Sturt and Cobb Highways, providing opportunities in logistics and freight for the site.
There is room, without constraints, for expansion to the south, plenty of unutilised land and good flying conditions with minimal fog disruptions.
