Wagga Wagga City Council is to enter into arrangements for the long-term lease of the Wagga Wagga Airport after months of negotiations.
The land on which the airport is located is owned by the Commonwealth of Australia, and is administered by the Department of Defence, and with Council's current lease expiring it was vital for a new long-term lease to be agreed upon.
At its Ordinary Meeting on Monday 21 September, Council authorised the General Manager or their delegate to finalise the terms and conditions of a new lease providing for a term of 50 years with an option term of a further 49 years.
Wagga Wagga City Council General Manager Peter Thompson said the securing of the lease is significant for the city and surrounding region.
"The Wagga Wagga Airport is an important piece of infrastructure, not just for our city but for regional NSW, as it provides access to and from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane," Mr Thompson said.
"It allows connectivity with the rest of Australia, and is a vital gateway for health practitioners, education providers, business professionals and visitors to the region.
"The expiry of the current lease has made negotiations necessary between Council and Defence concerning a replacement long-term lease to allow it to keep operating as a community asset.
"We are progressing with final negotiations and have worked positively with Defence to resolve any significant issues raised regarding the lease."
Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout said getting the lease agreement approved was a combined effort.
"We wouldn't have got this result without the input of everyone involved, including the staff that have done a lot of the reports and the background work, the community and supporting organisations," Cr Tout said.
"This airport is critical, not just for Wagga Wagga, but for surrounding communities and local government areas who also rely on it, and we thank them for their support to get this lease across the line."
The proposed lease of the Wagga Wagga Airport is critical in securing the future development of the facility through improving Council's ability to attract grant funding and supporting future infrastructure investment.
The benefits of long-term tenure have been identified through the Airport Business Case, Council's submission to Defence, community consultation, stakeholder engagement and extensive work undertaken by Council officers and the Wagga Wagga Airport Special Purpose Committee.
Through the long-term lease, Council will assume responsibility for the operation, maintenance and future development of the Wagga Wagga Airport.
Council looks forward to making improvements to the facility to improve the user experience and would like to thank the community for their patience, support and advocacy while negotiations for the airport lease were undertaken.
