Wiarton Keppel International Airport Feasibility Study 2021 © the Loomex Group 2021
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Wiarton Keppel International Airport Feasibility Study 2021 © The Loomex Group 2021 Photo: Pat Hanna Wiarton Keppel International Airport Feasibility Study Executive Summary Figure 1: Aerial View of the Airport by Edward Matthews Photography Background The Township of Georgian Bluffs and Grey County contracted The Loomex Group to conduct a Feasibility Study (Study) for the Wiarton Keppel International Airport (Airport) to determine its potential as a regional asset. The Wiarton Keppel International Airport is located 2.4 km east of Wiarton and is owned and operated by the Township of Georgian Bluffs. The Airport property contains approximately 815 acres of land and attracts a mix of aircraft traffic throughout the year, including regular flights for recreational purposes, charters, medical evacuations, training aircraft, and corporate aircraft. The type and size of aircraft flying into the Airport varies from small, single-engine planes to helicopters and jet aircraft. The Airport is the only Certified Airport in Grey and Bruce Counties, ensuring users' safety and providing oversight from Transport Canada, making this guaranteed safety element more desirable for users and businesses. The Airport is operational twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and can support aircraft flying in inclement weather situations. It can also accommodate commercial and private aircraft that other airports in the area may not receive due to existing infrastructure. The infrastructure benefits the region with a primary runway of approximately 5,028 feet in length and 150 feet in width, supporting various aircraft operations, including large corporate jets, turboprop aircraft and narrow-body airliners, including the Boeing 737. The runway has a pavement load rating of nine, making it capable of carrying loads of up to 90,720 kg aircraft, supporting the weight of larger jets and military aircraft. The instrument approaches to the runway are the best in the region, allowing aircraft to fly as low as 250 feet above the ground in inclement weather situations. Page i Wiarton Keppel International Airport Feasibility Study Options for the Future Examining the status of the Airport, there are three main options for moving forward with the Airport: the first is that the Airport remains status quo, the second being solvency, and the third option being the development of a Prosperity Hub. The Loomex Group determined the following conclusions after careful examination of each scenario: 1. Status Quo: The Township of Georgian Bluffs requires support to continue leadership of the Airport to better utilize the site and its lands and appropriate levels of business development and marketing initiatives. If operations remain status quo, it is not sustainable with annual deficits of approximately $300,000. 2. Solvency: The Airport’s current economic impact on the region is $2.4 million through direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts. Closing the Airport would negatively impact the economy. Other considerations have negative and direct impacts on the economy, including the approximate $1.4 million identified for Airport closure, in addition to intangible costs that could increase the closure fee to upwards of over $2.5 million. When combining the total economic loss and closure costs, the financial impact could reach more than $5 million for the Township. Aside from the expense, solvency would result in the loss of the region's only Transport Canada Certified Airport. 3. The Airport as a Regional Asset Introduced as the Prosperity Hub: Grey County Economic Development, Think Canada, potential investors, and The Loomex Group recognize the Airport’s potential. It should remain open, regionalize, and become the economic driver. In summary, the effect of a fully developed Prosperity Hub has the ability to deliver $44.5 million from job creation to the local economy. Based on a 31% development rate in the next ten years, the property tax estimate is $9.6 million generated from the Airport and its lands. This study examines the Prosperity Hub concept and improves the Airport's viability as a regional asset, offering recommendations and opportunities for investment and business pursuance to move the Airport and region forward with a sound decision-making and planning process. Page ii Wiarton Keppel International Airport Feasibility Study Prosperity Hub Concept The model to be proposed based on the Study results is a Grey-Bruce Prosperity Hub (Hub). The Hub would be a regional model of sustainability that would encompass several areas of focus working together to enhance tourism and self-reliance for the Airport and the local area community. The Study identified that the infrastructure to support these areas is lacking in the region. Under the idea of the commons are the Hub's key areas of focus: Aviation and Aerospace Aviation Education Aviation Commercial and Industrial Development Non-Aviation Commercial and Industrial Development Tourism Utilizing the land as a revenue and development resource to meet the larger needs of the region makes the creation of the Grey-Bruce Prosperity Hub achievable. The Hub would integrate sustainability, innovation, economy, and employment into the Airport lands’ design concepts and benefit the Grey and Bruce Counties. Ultimately, this design could generate significant profit for the region over ten years. The Hub model would incorporate key areas that will support the region, known as the “commons” of the Hub. The commons are listed as follows: Adventure Commons Business Commons Learning Commons Aerospace Commons Wiarton Keppel International Airport Page iii Wiarton Keppel International Airport Feasibility Study Wiarton Keppel International Airport – The Airport is the driving force at the centre of the Hub; it hosts the Hub’s economic growth potential through development on the lands. The Airport supports on-site businesses and the development and growth of General Aviation and aviation-related activities. Areas of focus for the Airport include Aviation & Aerospace, Aviation Education, Aviation Commercial & Industrial Development, and Tourism. Aerospace Commons – These Commons within the Hub will serve and support the Airport. Direct and indirect aviation-related services fall under these Commons and industry-related manufacturing, research, and technology. The Aerospace Commons areas include Aviation & Aerospace, Aviation Education, Aviation Commercial & Industrial Development. Learning Commons – Having these Commons on-site at the Airport provides an opportunity for collaboration with educational institutions and public and private training schools. There is also potential for partnerships between the Learning Commons and other Commons for research and development. The area of focus for the Learning Commons is Aviation Education. Business Commons – The Hub’s design for the Business Commons maximizes the employment lands available with commercial and industrial development. The land could support businesses and research, manufacturing, and warehousing. With nearby Bruce Power, the Business Commons can help both the organization and the regional supply chain involved in the processes at Bruce Power and draw in and support similar like- minded businesses. Any business growth could be supported by having an active certified Airport on-site. The Business Commons areas include Aviation Commercial & Industrial Development, Non-Aviation Commercial & Industrial Development. Adventure Commons – This Commons focuses on travel and tourism-related activities for the Grey-Bruce Region. Activities could include vacation charters and visitor travel. The Airport can support the Adventure Commons as a driver in tourism to support hiking, diving, and the national park with sightseeing tours and more. The area of focus for this Commons is Tourism. The Hub, under its commons and supported by the areas of focus, would provide a combined network of opportunities and support for new ventures and development across multiple areas. The model would provide the resources to attract and retain complementary business for the pillars while significantly drawing to the larger region. Economic Recognizing the Airport's economic benefits to the region and delving further into the analysis of the various studies for both airport and non-airport lands, the financial benefit of a shared ownership model and a collaborative approach to development emerged for future growth of the Airport lands. Page iv Wiarton Keppel International Airport Feasibility Study There were key areas identified throughout the Study to increase the Airport’s feasibility to be a regional asset. Employment Lands and business development present an opportunity to create a Prosperity Hub concept at the Airport. The Airport supporting the nuclear supply chain of 60 to 70 companies that were identified in consultation with Bruce Power, the Nuclear Innovation Institute, and the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries was an opportunity readily identified. Bruce Power supported the Airport and its growth and sees possibilities in using the Airport in the future. This is one of several driving factors for the inspiration and design of the Airport Lands as a feasible, sustainable, and innovative hub. Like-minded businesses can establish themselves at the Prosperity Hub within the region, accessing all the necessities and close proximity to the Greater Toronto Area. Grey and Bruce Counties are ideally situated and offer a beautiful landscape catering to both work and play, which would be