This afternoon (Thursday 19th August) SAAA was advised that a number of aviation tenants at Redcliffe Airport in Queensland have been given notice of eviction, following a decision by the Moreton Bay Regional Council to convert their aviation facilities into non-aviation storage for community artistic, social and cultural use.
Tony White, SAAA National President, agrees with AOPA CEO Ben Morgan, that the evictions to be an aggressive act of reprisal, following determined advocacy by the local aviation community to call out excessive over-charging of aviation property leaseholds at the airport site by Council.
The hangars in question are currently home to eight local aircraft, who must now vacate the aviation properties, so that Council may convert them to non-aviation use. The hangars are located airside of the aerodrome security fencing.
The move to convert hangars to non-aviation use, boldly contradicts Council requirements forced on leaseholders, mandating that aviation property be used exclusively for aviation, informing leaseholders that it was a requirement of the Planning Act.
“We need to ensure that all aviation organisations and members, express their concern to the Moreton Bay Regional Council and I too have written to the Mayor and Chief Executive, requesting the evictions to be reversed.”, says SAAA National President, Tony White.
The AGAA (Australian General Aviation Alliance) members of which AOPA and SAAA are founders along with AMROBA firmly support the tenants who are being evicted and offer our support to the Redcliffe Airport Chamber of Commerce.
Ben Morgan CEO AOPA says “It is essential that airports be available to aviation users as a priority, with the interests and objectives of aviation standing above any non-aviation use that council has proposed. “Aviation businesses and aircraft cannot be stored or operated from local council depots, community halls, parks, sporting ovals, public pools, libraries or any other community property in the Moreton Bay region – they exclusively require airports.”
“Non-aviation community arts, social and cultural items that require storage, are capable of being located in a vast number of compatible locations, seeking to displace aviation users from the airport is simply not an appropriate action by Council.”
We ask you our members to contact the Moreton Bay Shire and support the local aviation community to retain their tenancies.