Lockyer Valley Airport to Takeoff

http://www.thechronicle.com.au/story/2011/12/20/lockyer-valley-airport-takes/

The Chronicle reports (with an epic headline pun) on the launch of a new airport proposed for the Lockyer Valley. Regional Council Mayor, Paul Lucas, views the airport as an economic boost for the region.

The airstrip is expected to assist the community in a number of ways. The strip will be long enough for Dash 8's to land on hopefully boosting tourism to the area as well as having facilities for local emergency management. A dam located on site is designed for water bombing helicopters to use for firefighting with the helipad doubling as access for other emergency aircraft.

The airport is also expected to be used recreationally, both as a training facility as well as a historical aviation museum to be located on site.

The support of the local government in this venture is a positive move for the aviation community. Local Governments around Australia have been closing down airports to sell to developers, hindering the growth of our industry and recreational aviation in general.

AOPA in 2010 (http://www.aopa.com.au/magazine/2010/07/articles/disappearing-airports-update/) describes the struggles facing many of our regional airports, most of which are used in great numbers. We can only hope that all of our regional councils see the example shown by the Lockyer Valley and start to increase access to aviation rather than hinder it.