A concerned pilot and member of the Casino Aero Club, Margaret Howes (e-mail: brolgas1@bigpond.net.au, phone : 0428-878-505) has contacted me seeking support from AMPA for the opposition of a Development Application for drag racing at Casino that seems likely to affect the on-going use of the airport for aviation purposes.

AMPA should be very concerned about non-aviation use of former-Commonwealth airports. AOPA, and Ben Morgan’s AviationAdvertiser, have expressed concerns at several levels of Government and have provided advice and assistance recently to users of Casino and Caloundra airports.



In relation to Casino Airport, Margaret Howes has provided the following information:

In 1992 the Commonwealth of Australia handed over about 250 airports under a deed to transfer to Local Councils. Restrictions were placed on the airports that they could only be used for aviation purposes, however many of these airports are under threat by residential housing, nursing homes and other purposes. These non-aviation uses, which now include drag racing, can pose a serious threat to access to our airports.

A promoter is seeking development approval for the continuation and expansion of drag racing at Casino Airport. Margaret Howes informs us that for each recent drag-racing event, Casino Airport was shut to air traffic for 3 days and planes could not land or take off. The air ambulance, crop dusters, flying school, water bombers for fire fighting, 80 Casino Aero Club members, private and commercial aircraft - all registered and paying users of the airport were affected. A medical specialist flew up from Sydney to visit patients at Casino Hospital and had to divert to Lismore and take a taxi 25kms back to Casino.

DA.2010/420 has been lodged by Jukebox Lismore Inc with Richmond Valley Council for four drag races per year on the Casino Airport. After the March and May race meetings, the sealed runway is showing signs of damage and the grass aircraft movement areas have several ruts in them. David Lander runs the events and collects the money.

Margaret advises that DA.2010/420 proposes to race 150 competitors drag cars, have a wheel-spinning burnout at least twice by an 8 tonne truck, involving about 3000-4000 spectators, and parking for 1542 cars on the grass airport manoeuvering area between the hangars and sealed runway.

If you would like to make a submission about this, send it to Brian Wilkinson, General Manager, Richmond Valley Council before Friday 4pm 16th July. His email address for submissions is Brian.Wilkinson@richmondvalley.nsw.gov.au It is quite easy to write an email by way of objection, and it may save Casino Airport being lost to aviation.

The AMPA Board is considering an appropriate response.

Should you need further information, please contact Margaret directly using the contact details above, or Peter Rejto by e-mail to peter.rejto@oberlin.edu. As only a few days remain before the time for lodging objections expires, please act immediately if you wish to object.

These events close the airport for 3 days. The DA is asking for four race events each year which means the airport is closed for 12 days. Aero Club members, pilots, and other lease holders are denied lawful access to their property for which they are paying the Richmond Valley Council (RVC) considerably more money than the race promoters. This is unacceptable! There is strong suspicion that the race promoters are hoping to buy the airport from the council, and this is just the first step. Damage to the property has been verified by a consulting engineer, yet RVC refuses to recognise the damage, let alone pay for repairs. The airport is used by the NSW Rural Fire Service, Royal Flying Doctors, Air Ambulance, and private doctors. All are denied access if the airport is closed for drag racing. In my view this exposes the RVC to tremendous liability, and this liability would extend to the race itself. Previous races have lacked even basic safety precautions....

Please respond if you can!

AMPA's submitted letter to the Richmond Valley Council.