Fraser Coast (Hervey Bay & Maryborough) landing frees

What a joke. Boat ramps don't make money, maybe they should charge $7.40 per launch?

yes crayon box - maryborough airport is an incredible asset 

no doubt airport users have racked their brains trying to figure out how to pump more life into it - I think there is a proposed air park - perhaps council could raffle an allotment to get things going ?)

There's an airpark, but the subdivision has no services - they are relying on buyers to provide their own off-grid solar etc.  None sold as far as I know.  The Maryborough Millitary Aviation Museum hopes to have a museum building up and running in 2020 and is presently restoring things and displaying in another hangar.  The local prison has flights transferring prisoners & staff.  No RPT, but there's a RAA flying school,  Aero Club with C172 and some gliding enthusiasts getting that Club & School going again.  Fuel on site or short walk to Servo.  Large grounds with off-street parking, sharing with other useful facilities and organisations, with public amenities for 'festivals' like the Wings & Wheels a few months ago.   Right the beside the town.   I don't think it is under any threat because it is making itself too useful.

Heard the Airpark is not going ahead as the Council did not have permission to sell the land? The land outside has been given over to RVs and is time restricted. Not free as they have to pay the Football club. No camping allowed as far as I am aware. Not allowed under wing, not allowed outside either. Looks like Hervey Bay is the better option as ERSA (November 2018) states Hervey Bay is free for Recreational Flyers but not Maryborough . Parking fees and landing fees will restrict future events. The Roulettes was a great success by all accounts with plenty of parking but that was before the caravan park and once the Aviation museum goes up there will be less land outside for carparking. 

After chasing down some information, it turns out the camping area is no longer free, you must be fully self sufficient (toilet shower water supply etc), and therefore camping in tents is prohibited.  There goes the idea of a fly-in weekend, but I will keep looking at options.

I fly a trike in and out of Maryborough - no sign of a Landing fee as yet. 

Another take (possible conspiracy theory) about airport fees.

When a council implements airport fees, the original, and stated, intent is to cover the operating and maintenance costs of the airfield. However, a subplot could be to drive traffic away, thereby justifying the sale of the airport to developers. Everyone knows that airports draw developers like sugar draws ants. All that flat cleared land is cheap to build houses on and developers can make a motza out of an ex airport. Then the council gets rates from all those houses/units and no longer has to pay to maintain the airport. For the council and the developers, what's not to like. For the couple hundred pilots who can no longer land or house their planes there ... Too bad!

This is the world we live in now. Where the $ rules and business is a sacred (cash) cow.

Another take (possible conspiracy theory) about airport fees.When a council implements airport fees, the original, and stated, intent is to cover the operating and maintenance costs of the airfield. However, a subplot could be to drive traffic away, thereby justifying the sale of the airport to developers. Everyone knows that airports draw developers like sugar draws ants. All that flat cleared land is cheap to build houses on and developers can make a motza out of an ex airport. Then the council gets rates from all those houses/units and no longer has to pay to maintain the airport. For the council and the developers, what's not to like. For the couple hundred pilots who can no longer land or house their planes there ... Too bad!

 

This is the world we live in now. Where the $ rules and business is a sacred (cash) cow.

I heard before Christmas something very interesting....  But time will tell.

1. First though - you are right.  Less flying seems to be the council agenda - wouldn't want to promote possible business and tourism opportunity around here. 

2. The new fuel bowser was out of action but 'should' be working again now - AvGas.

3. The Maryborough airport is a historical WW2 training site - it can not or will not (or will it?) be removed or developed.

Now the big one...

4. Blocks were being sold as an airpark on the opposite side of the runway from the hangers - but this is now not the case.  Allegedly, the reason being that the Federal Government stepped in and told the local council they cannot sell or use this land this way as it was not 'theirs' to sell/use - it is Federal, and it will stay as it is!  What a joke and waste of tax payers money - again.

Murwillumbah had a council notice of its intent to charge $14.00 per landing, I saw this before xmas.