MINUTES
OF A MEETING OF THE Airport
Advisory Committee HELD IN
the Committee Room,
Administration Building, Southern Drive, Busselton, ON 18 January 2018
AT 11.00am.
1. Declaration
of Opening and Announcement of Visitors
The Director of Community and Commercial Services opened the
meeting at 11.27am.
2. Attendance
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Presiding Member:
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Members:
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Cr John McCallum
Deputy Mayor
(from 11.28am)
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Cr Paul Carter
Cr Coralie Tarbotton
Cr Kelly Hick
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Officers:
Mr Mike Archer, Chief
Executive Officer
Mrs Naomi Searle, Director, Community and Commercial
Services
Mr Paul Needham, Director,
Planning and Development Services (entered at 12.17pm and left at
12.27pm)
Ms Jennifer May, Manager Commercial Services
Mr David Russell, Airport Operations Coordinator
Mr Ben Whitehill, Project Officer - Contracts and
Tendering
Miss Kate Dudley, Administration
Officer, Governance
Apologies
Nil
ELECTION OF A PRESIDING MEMBER
Conducted by the Director, Community and Commercial Services
as a delegated representative of the Chief Executive Officer.
Councillor McCallum nominated himself for the position and
his nomination was seconded by Councillor Carter. There being no further
nominations, Councillor McCallum was elected as Presiding Member.
CARRIED 4/0
11.28am At
this time the Presiding Member assumed Chairmanship of the meeting.
ELECTION OF DEPUTY PRESIDING MEMBER
Conducted by the Presiding Member.
Councillor Carter nominated himself for the position and his
nomination was seconded by Councillor McCallum. There being no further
nominations, Councillor Carter was elected as Deputy Chair.
CARRIED 4/0
3. Public
Question Time
Nil
4. Disclosure
Of Interests
Nil
5. Confirmation
Of Minutes
5.1 Minutes
of the Airport Advisory Committee Meeting held 18 October 2017
6. Reports
6.1 Busselton-Margaret
River Airport - Airport Update
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SUBJECT
INDEX:
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Busselton-Margaret
River Airport
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STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE:
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Assets are well
maintained and responsibly managed.
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BUSINESS UNIT:
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Commercial Services
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ACTIVITY UNIT:
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Commercial
Services
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REPORTING OFFICER:
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Airport Operations Coordinator -
David Russell
Manager, Commercial Services -
Jennifer May
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AUTHORISING OFFICER:
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Director, Community and Commercial
Services - Naomi Searle
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VOTING REQUIREMENT:
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Simple Majority
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ATTACHMENTS:
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Nil
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PRÉCIS
This report provides an overview on
the Busselton-Margaret River Airport (BMRA) operations and activities for the reporting
period 1 October 2017 to 31 December 2017.
BACKGROUND
The BMRA has seen a decrease in the
overall FIFO / charter passenger numbers compared to the same period for
2015/16, which can be attributed to the withdrawal of the Maroomba / Ad Astral
services to the Karrara mine site in December 2015 and a reduction in private
charter passengers from 2016 to 2017.
Below is a table indicating the
number of total passengers travelling through BMRA for the reporting period of
1 October to 31 December for 2015, 2016 and 2017:
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Total
Arriving & Departing Passengers
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2015
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2016
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2017
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October
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2512
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1925
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2125
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November
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2331
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2640
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2501
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December
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2284
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2039
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1804
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TOTAL
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7127
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6604
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6430
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The total
number of departing FIFO services from BMRA is currently 10 flights per week.
A total of 1091 aircraft landings
were recorded for the period October-December 2017, a decrease from the numbers
reported for the same period in 2016 (1303) and 2015 (1431). This reduction in
aircraft landing is attributed to fewer skydiving operations, the removal of a
weekday courier service in April 2017 and the Maroomba / Ad-Astral service as
noted above. Busselton Aero Club training flight and emergency services
operations have also decreased for the same period, however flight movements have
increased for adventure flight operations in 2017.
Car Park
Car park usage has remained steady
with regards to car parking numbers and a very slight increase in revenue.
Over the weekend of 6 January 2018,
the car park was broken into with damage to 3 vehicles including one (1)
vehicle having all wheels removed and sustaining panel damage with others
having spot lights removed.
City Officers have reported this to
Police and officers are investigating the use of CCTV to monitor all vehicles
entering and exiting the car park and terminal roads with preliminary
investigations estimating the cost to be in the $20,000 to $30,000 range.
Runway
Closure
The City approved the airside
construction contractors Ertech to close the runway for a four (4) day period
(11/01/2018 – 16/01/2018) to conduct 24 hour operations for the
preparation to relocate to temporary runway south, enabling works to be
completed on the northern section of the runway before final commissioning of
the permanent runway on 1 March 2018. The closure did not affect
scheduled services and has been the only closure associated with the Airport
Development Project.
Comprehensive consultation with all
airport users, stakeholders and emergency services has been conducted prior to
this operation taking place.
Temporary runway south will see the
existing apron and taxiway closed with a temporary code B taxiway extension
constructed to allow BMRA hanger owners/tenants to use the runway while the
current apron and taxiway are closed.
CASA Surveillance
CASA conducted a
Level 1 aerodrome surveillance from 6 - 9 November 2017 during which time six
(6) safety observations and 10 safety findings were reported. City officers
have responded to CASA on rectifications and will report all findings to the
Airport Safety Management Committee when completed.
The below table indicates the areas
identified as having safety findings or observations. The surveillance
scope is the extent and boundaries of the surveillance activity.
AV8 Charity
Event
The City has
received a request from AV8 Charity Flight, the event organiser for the AV8
Charity
Flight to raise
funds for Variety WA, to waive the landing fees and passenger facilitation fees
for an
event to be
held on 10 March 2018. The event comprises of two (2) F100 aircraft, with
expected
passenger
numbers of 200 to fly down to Busselton and spend the day in the region. The
fundraising
proceeds go to the Variety Club of WA.
The estimated total waived fees,
including landing fees, passenger fees and staff costs, is expected to be
$5,900 (excl GST) and as such requires Council endorsement. The City supported
this event last year through the waiving of landing and passenger facilitation
charges. Other sponsors for this event include Virgin Australia Regional Airlines
(VARA) and Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association (MRBTA)
NMP NON-COMPLIANCE REPORTING
Under the Noise Management Plan
(NMP) the City is required to submit its annual compliance report to the Office
of Environmental Protection Authority (OEPA) prior to 22 September 2018 for the
reporting period of 23 June 2017 to 22 June 2018. For the period of 23
June 2017 to the current date there has been three non-conforming operations
(all by the same operator) reported to the OEPA and one (1) out of an
available twelve (12) CEO approved non-conforming activities (section 3.3.3
Approval for Non-Conforming Activity of the NMP) used for this reporting
period.
STATUTORY
ENVIRONMENT
The BMRA operates in accordance with
the following: Aviation Transport Security Act 2004, Aviation Transport
Security Regulations 2005, CASA MOS 139, Council’s Transport Security
Plan and City policies and procedures.
RELEVANT
PLANS AND POLICIES
There are no policy implications
with this report.
FINANCIAL
IMPLICATIONS
Airport revenue for the 2017/2018
financial year to 31 December is $441,719 compared to a projected year to date
(YTD) budget of $491,100. The main reasons for revenue being less than expected
is due to the City having not received payment of VARA’s December 2017
passenger fees estimated at $20,000 and outstanding Avdata landing fee
collection estimated at $40,000.
Car parking revenue is slightly
higher than expected with an income of $119,938 compared to the projected YTD
budget of $112,500.
The graph below shows the landing
fees collected by Avdata for the reporting period October - December 2017 in
comparison to the same period for 2015 and 2016, noting that AVDATA have
invoiced operators for December 2017 landings but the City has not received
these fees as noted above.
Airport expenditure for 1 October
2017 to 31 December 2017 is $373,457 compared to a projected YTD Budget amount
of $345,400. Expenditure at this time is higher than expected due to planned
works for the site clearance and water tank relocation for the jet fuel
facility having been performed earlier than expected. There are no financial
implications as a result of this report.
Long-term Financial Plan Implications
There are no
financial implications as a result of this report.
STRATEGIC
COMMUNITY OBJECTIVES
The BMRA is consistent with
following the City of Busselton’s strategic Objectives:
Well Planned,
Vibrant and Active Places:
· Infrastructure
Assets that are well maintained and responsibly managed to provide for future
generations;
· Connected
City of Busselton Transport options that provide greater links within our
district and increase capacity for community participation.
RISK
ASSESSMENT
An assessment of the potential
implications of implementing the officer recommendation has been undertaken
using the City’s risk assessment framework. The assessment sought to
identify ‘downside’ risks only rather than ‘upside’
risks and where the risk, following implementation of controls, has been
identified as medium or greater. No such risks were identified.
CONSULTATION
Consultation with Department of
Transport, South West Development Commission, Aviation Projects, Government
agencies, Airport stakeholders, Office of Transport Security (OTS), Civil
Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Virgin Australia Regional Airline, the
Busselton Aero Club, Service Agencies, Albany, Esperance, Geraldton Airports
and Australian Airports Association has been occurring on a regular basis
concerning many topics and issues relating to the Airport.
OFFICER
COMMENT
FIFO passenger numbers through the
BMRA have remained steady with a reduction in Ad-hoc charter passengers
compared to the same period last year. Officers expect FIFO passenger
numbers to remain in line or above budgeted forecasts for the remainder of the
financial year.
The October - December period has
seen operational improvements, maintenance, scheduled inspections and staff
training taking place including:
· Relocation
of the water tanks for filling water bombing aircraft to make way for the Jet
A1 fuel facility which will be operational in February 2018;
· Installation
and replacement of boundary security signage;
· Arum
Lilly eradication program;
· Rectification
of CASA surveillance findings; and
· AAA
Training webinars on NOTAM awareness and Aerodrome pavement design.
CONCLUSION
With airside and landside works well
underway, the importance of maintaining a compliant aerodrome has been the
utmost priority of the last quarter. The Airport Team continues to work with
the Project Team for the upcoming completion of airside works and the
challenges ahead this year.
As always officers will continue to
provide a high level of customer service ensuring the airport is operating
safely during this year and during the Airport Development Project.
OPTIONS
The Airport Advisory Committee
chooses not to accept the Officers report.
TIMELINE
FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF OFFICER RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable
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COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION AND OFFICER RECOMMENDATION
AIR1801/041 Moved Councillor C Tarbotton, seconded K Hick
ABSOLUTE MAJORITY DECISION OF COUNCIL REQUIRED
That the Council endorses the
waiving of landing fees, passenger facilitation fees and staff costs for the AV8
Charity Flight to be held on 10 March 2018 to raise funds for Variety Club of
WA for 2 x F100 aircraft and estimated 200 passengers to the value of $5,900
(excl GST).
CARRIED 4/0
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Please
note: These minutes are yet to be confirmed as a true record of
proceedings