Is Parafield Airport on the Developers List?

[glenns]

See below for an article in todays Adelaide Advertiser. Although not an RAAus Airfield Parafield looks like it is certainly on the developers hitlist of land close the the CBD in Adelaide.

 

A SECOND major airport for South Australia could be built near Monarto "in the next 10 to 20 years".

 

Later this month, local government leaders from the Murraylands, Fleurieu and Adelaide Hills will meet and are expected to offer their support for the project. Murraylands Regional Development Board chief executive Brenton Lewis told The Advertiser yesterday the airport would be part of a "transport hub" which would provide connections for rail and road transport.

 

It is predicted the airport alone would create up to 700 jobs.

 

"This project would costs hundreds of millions of dollars . . . but we believe our region is the best-equipped for another major airport in SA," he said. "We have identified land in the Monarto area as the preferred spot . . . "

 

The airport could include relocating Parafield Airport.

 

Adelaide Airport corporate affairs manager John McArdle said Adelaide Airport Limited had a 99-year lease for Parafield Airport in its current location.

 

 

[Deskpilot]

Think you might be right, Glenn. First they (Parafield Corp) seemed to have priced themselves out of the GA market as a load of ex Parafield aircraft are now at Aldinga. Which is great in that a one time under used airfield is now a developing asset to the southern area. However, it forces Adelaide flyers to travel either north to Gawler, or south to Aldinga, up to an hour either way. Parafield is prime realestate the developers will stop at nothing to get their grubbly hands on it.

 

As for another airfield at Monato..... What are they going to do with the safari park, close it down as well. Murray Bridge will also come under pressure as it's so close. Oh, and don't forget Callington and Rollos sky diving field. BTW, we at MB, have an unwritten law that nobody flies directly over the park. We don't want to see Giraffes panicing and breaking legs etc.

 

Actually, I don't see the need for another airfield. I know there are a few that can still afford Parafield but they could save money if they have to move. The commercial pilots schools could move into Adelaide International as that's under utilised at present. Besides which, all the training pilots are hoping to be flying from major airport and it would put them in at the deep end from the begining. RAAF Edinburgh is hardly used enough to warrant concideration, unless they post in a fighter squadron in which case close Parafield by all means.

 

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. You can be sure of one thing. We, the public won't get much of a say in it. The developer are hand in hand with the polies so most decisions will be made behind closed doors.

 

Just had a thought. Why not extend Strathalban airfield and add a spur to the freeway? The ground in that area is just a flat as Monato and there's a beaut town to provide the labour.

 

Any more ideas people. Doug