556% Increase in Rent Threatens Future of Gliding Clubs at Camden Airport

, Community556% Increase in Rent Threatens Future of Gliding Clubs at Camden Airport

556% Increase in Rent Threatens Future of Gliding Clubs at Camden Airport

February 28, 2020 By Kreisha Ballantyne
AOPA Australia's KREISHA BALLANTYNE reports.
The Gliding Federation of Australia (GFA) has called on the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia for urgent assistance in pushing back on proposed leasehold rent increases of 556%,...

The Gliding Federation of Australia (GFA) has called on the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia for urgent assistance in pushing back on proposed leasehold rent increases of 556%, issued by Sydney Metro Airports (SMA) that manage Bankstown and Camden Airports.

The Southern Cross Gliding Club and Sydney Gliding have both received lease renewal proposals that would see the clubs paying unsustainable 225% and 558% increases respectively.

“Both clubs are an integral part of the Sydney basin aviation community and have made significant contributions at Camden Airport, helping cultivate eight decades of participation in flying.” CEO AOPA Australia, Benjamin Morgan.

“The increases proposed by SMA are entirely unsustainable and highlight the disconnect between privatised airport owner expectations and the financial realities of the general aviation industry.

“Our general aviation industry has no choice and requires access to our airports.  There are no alternative locations in the Sydney basin for aviation clubs and businesses to move to if they refuse the unsustainable increases, they simply close their doors and are gone.

“How can small aviation community clubs be expected to successfully negotiate for equitable and fair access to the airports the Australian taxpayer owns, dealing with a privatised monopoly infrastructure operator whom the government will not hold to account?

“This is an impossible situation for general aviation and requires immediate government intervention – this cannot continue the way it has for the past two decades,” he said.

More on this as it develops.


 

Kreisha Ballantyne

Kreisha’s experience across various sectors of the aviation industry reflect her passion for general aviation. In previous editorial roles at AOPA Australian Pilot, Sport Pilot and AirSport, Kreisha has had the privilege of flying in – and writing about -a multitude of aircraft types, from a powered parachute to a PC12. Kreisha is currently a feature writer for Australian Flying magazine, as well as CASA’s Flight Safety Australia. As a private pilot, Kreisha has experienced an incredible array of aviation adventures, including flying solo across Australia in heels and lipstick to influence young female pilots; wing-walking on a vintage Stearman; flying in New Zealand, the UK, the USA and Austria; and interviewing a diverse and incredible cross-section of aviators. Now in her tenth year in the industry, she is delighted to continue her passion for writing about aviation as one of AOPA’s new digital editors.

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