Up, up and away: New plan for South Coast airport predicts demand of more than 200,000 passengers

A South Coast council is hoping a regional airport can take off following the endorsement of a new plan.

The Merimbula Airport Master Plan 2043 was approved by Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC) at its recent meeting.

Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick said the plan was a “visionary document” to help with council’s long-term planning.

“It has a 20-year horizon that shows a bit of flexibility around how things can be staged and make sure upgrades are taken at the most appropriate time,” he said.

“Things will take time. We won’t bring bulldozers in tomorrow and redo the whole place.”

Merimbula Airport is located two kms south of the Merimbula township and is served by Rex and QantasLink offering services to Sydney and Melbourne.

A freight service also operates to the airport five days per week, and it is also used by emergency services, a flight school and other private business, according to the master plan.

Mr Fitzpatrick acknowledged parking options had long been limited.

There is currently an estimated 178 carparks at the airport, with options including timed parking adjacent to the terminal, paid parks operated by a private lessee and informal parking space on nearby cleared land.

“That would be one of the first things that we start addressing [through the master plan],” he said.

“We’ve had a lot of trouble – and a lot of near misses – with people walking across Arthur Kaine Drive from what’s been unofficial parking on the eastern side of the airport.

“We definitely need to increase the amount of car parking very quickly.”

The master plan states the proposed work “can deliver between 400 and 470 public parking” spaces.

It also predicts total annual passenger traffic in 2043 will be between 160,000 and 290,000.

“Personally, I can’t see it [reaching 300,000]. I’d love to have it – it would be great for our tourist economy,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“In reality, if we get to the 100,000 mark it would constitute a substantial problem around parking and making sure it’s accessible to all those people who use the airport.”

After a dip in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-era travel restrictions, and a runway closure in 2022, 2023 saw passenger traffic return to the highest annual levels since 2007 at about 60,000, according to the master plan.

The master plan proposals include an upgrade of Taxiway C to suit larger and heavier airplanes, and a terminal expansion.

Mr Fitzpatrick said BVSC was looking to increase the number of travellers passing through Merimbula Airport.

“The runway extensions and things have been to try to cater for larger aircraft,” he said.

“As you get a larger plane, it becomes more economical for the airlines.

“Hopefully, with that, we may see a reduction in passenger rates and a reduction in price.

“If we can build to 100,000 passengers, we can really start making the airport self-sufficient instead of it being subsidised by ratepayers.”

Mr Fitzpatrick said the development of the Merimbula Airport Master Plan 2043 came as various businesses operating within the airport finished their leases.

“They are on land-only leases. They always required the businesses to leave the vacant sites at the end of the lease period,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.

“We’ve been talking to the tenants; some have already extended their leases and others have commended moving.”

“Those negotiations are continuing with council and the businesses.”

In the meeting, councillors Fitzpatrick, Cathy Griff, Liz Seckold, Tony Allen, Helen O’Neil, Joy Robin and Karen Wright voted in support of the master plan, while councillors Mitchell Nadin and David Porter voted against it.

The Merimbula Airport Master Plan 2043 was included in the meeting agenda and is available through the council’s website.