Warnings the Waitomo District Council’s intent to raise landing fees at the Te Kūiti airport will backfire have failed to influence the decision.
Aeroclub members warned the landing fees increase would discourage airport use, and lead to a loss of custom that could threaten the aviation fuel supply that the council also obtains income from.
But the agenda for Tuesday’s council meeting stated new charges for ground leases and for both commercial and aeroclub landing fees will be applied if an annual landing fee for users cannot be negotiated.
Te Kūiti Aeroclub rooms at the airport will soon be vacant, members say.
The fees and charges for Te Kūiti Aerodrome adopted on Tuesday were visiting aircraft landing, Touch and go first and Te Kūiti Aeroclub Members Landing all $15, commercial users $20, Annual Plane Storage (casual) $562.00, ground lease fees (annual) over 200 square metres $3.18/sqm and ground lease fees (annual) under 200sqm $6.61/sqm.
Strategy and policy manager Charmaine Ellery said staff were continuing to seek a cost effective landing recording system to reduce costs.
Aeroclub secretary George Thompson and Te Awamutu pilot John Lissington both submitted a $15 landing fee was a bad idea. They suggested it would discourage visiting aircraft and end up costing the council through a drop in income from fewer aircraft movements, and from selling less fuel.
Because of its location, Te Kūiti provided an important transiting fuel stop – an added benefit to the council as it collected a levy on the fuel, Thompson said.
The system in use at other regional airports was a better one, it was argued. They required an annual fee for regular users and an honesty system for casuals, which could be paid online from information provided at the aeroclub. It would require the council to accept quarterly or monthly fees based on historical data.
It was also noted landing fees were lower, at $10 at New Plymouth and Taupō.
Thompson said it was ironical that council wanted a $20 fee from the top dressing aircraft which had over the last 70 years played the most significant role in developing the greater Waitomo rural area, and generating the wealth that contributed to the council’s rating base.
Lissington challenged the council claim it wanted to increase income from the airport, saying he knew of at least four hangars that could not be built.
“You don’t appear to be encouraging the growth of the airport. That’s four ground rentals you are not getting,” he said. “In my own case I gave up waiting to build because nothing was being done on site so I could start. I had already had the kitset ordered and paid for. All the access roads and fences that were constructed and built unnecessarily at great cost could have been saved.”
