Member for Albury Justin Clancy said the expansion of emergency service resources at the Corowa Aerodrom would facilitate the efficient and timely deployment of assets at times of natural disasters, such as bushfires and floods, as well as medical evacuations.
The possibility of Corowa Aerodrome being used as a future hub for local emergency services is looking positive according to Federation Council.
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The idea of the hub has attracted constructive conversations in Sydney recently involving Member for Albury Justin Clancy, NSW Minister for Emergency Service Jihad Dib and a delegation from Federation Council.
Also in attendance were NSW State Emergency Service (SES) and the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) which included Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner, Field Operations, Peter McKechnie.
The Sydney meeting resulted as part of Federation Council’s soon-to-be finalised Service Review of Corowa Aerodrome.
Mr Clancy said the expansion of emergency service resources at the Redlands Road site, would facilitate the efficient and timely deployment of assets at times of natural disasters, such as bushfires and floods, as well as medical evacuations.
Mr Clancy thanked Minister Dib for his interest in the proposal.
“There is an opportunity to see activation of the aerodrome precinct whilst providing a base for our emergency services for well into the future.
The current Rural Fire Service Centre at the Corowa Airport.
“I look forward to these discussions progressing between local emergency services, government and Federation Council,” Mr Clancy said.
Federation Council’s General Manager Adrian Butler welcomed the meeting in Sydney, commenting that Minister Dib was open to further discussions on collaboration between agencies.
Mr Butler expressed his thanks to Mr Clancy who was able to arrange the meeting for council to meet and discuss opportunities.
“It was very useful to be able to express council’s local discussions with the State Emergency Service and the Rural Fire Service, to the Minister’s level, about a possible expansion of the RFS facility at the Corowa Aerodrome, to house a new SES facility also,” Mr Butler said.
“The minister was supportive of council undertaking some planning around this, pending this being consistent with the outcomes of the soon to be finalised Service Review for the Corowa Aerodrome.”
Mr Butler said the Minister expressed encouragement to also have discussions with the local Corowa Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA), as he understands that they may also be looking for a larger/new base.
“Council looks forward to progressing these discussions,” he said.
At its July meeting, Mr Butler was directed by council to raise the issue of the costs to run the Corowa Branch of the Service NSW agency, not matching the income Federation Council receives from the State Government to deliver their services.
“Our staff do a fantastic job for the wider community to deliver this state government service, and council looks forward to working further to bring this service back to full cost recovery for council,” he said.
The whole subject was about to be discussed at Federation Council’s final monthly meeting on Tuesday of the currently elected council, as The Free Press was going to print.
In his report for council, Mr Butler informed councillors said: “Discussions have commenced between RFS and council staff and have highlighted the site suitability and practicality of upgrading the existing building and the possible inclusion of SES, resulting in a joint facility similar to that in Deniliquin.
“These works need a small scoping study to determine the best short-term actions to achieve the best long-term outcomes. There are no foreseeable issues likely to halt or slow down any of the required works to be undertaken.”
The general manager said council has already allocated funds from last year’s carryover to facilitate some of this work however more funding will be required to do a suitable full expansion to house the SES in a suitable setting.
“Should council feel the state government would support this proposal, council would invest in planning in liaison with the agencies, to more accurately cost and seek funding,” Mr Butler said.
Concerted efforts in the past have been made to acquire more services and resources at the Corowa Aerodrome. In 2017, Federation Council was well in the running, with other councils, to secure a new regional pilot training academy.
Qantas revealed its plan to build a $20 million academy, with the aim of training about 500 pilots every year. It was hoped the facility would reinvigorate the airport.
Federation Council formally terminated an 'Agreement to lease’ between it and Amber Airports Pty Ltd for the Corowa Aerodrome.
At the time, Mr Butler said: “The onset of Covid-19 and the drastic downturn in the global aviation industry, along with negotiations with respect to the condition of assets meant the negotiations have reached a point where the agreement to lease has now expired.”
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