SCONE & UPPER HUNTER AIRPORT STRATEGIC PLAN 2014 ‐ 2019 VISION The Scone & Upper Hunter Airport Strategic Plan focuses on good stewardship of this community asset by establishing objectives, developing strategies, and formulating action plans consistent with realising the vision for Scone & Upper Hunter Airport and the vision of the Upper Hunter Shire Council (UHSC). UHSC VISION A Quality Rural Lifestyle in a Vibrant, Caring and Sustainable Community UHSC MISSION To enhance the quality of life of all Shire residents by the provision of appropriate services and facilities through effective and efficient management of resources. To serve the community through equality of opportunity and involvement. To build a prosperous environmentally sustainable future. To foster sustainable, economic and social growth. The Scone & Upper Hunter Airport Strategic Plan proposes an airport that will satisfy the potential demand for aviation services in a way which is compatible with the environment, the local community and the rational development of facilities, yet maintain flexibility to cater for future changes in demand. AIRPORT VISION A well‐planned and serviced Airport facility managed in a manner that attracts environmentally responsible economic development opportunities to the Upper Hunter region. AIRPORT MISSION To productively use the airport’s assets for the economic and social benefit of the residents of the Upper Hunter local government area. To manage and develop the airport in a sustainable manner. 2 Scone & Upper Hunter Airport – Strategic Plan 2014‐2019 TRIM‐INT‐4327/14 BACKGROUND The airstrip itself is a fully sealed runway 1404 metres in length with a 100 metre Runway End Scone & Upper Hunter Airport was constructed in Safety Area (RESA), night landing, fuel and 1958 by the former Scone Shire Council. The passenger facilities. airport was constructed for Fokker Friendship F27 aircraft. The Airport also supports a wide range of aircraft related industries such as aircraft maintenance, In existence for 56 years, it is currently classified aerial spraying, fire bombing, war bird museum, as a PCN 12 (Subgrade C). The facility has a scenic flights, aircraft welding and local aero club terminal building, aircraft fuelling facilities, activities. automatic weather station and an Aviation Cluster Park (incorporating fully serviced The Airport services the entire Upper Hunter allotments, light aircraft storage facilities, access region, (including the coal fields and equine roads and a hangar complex). Lighting was industries between Quirindi and Singleton) and provided in 1983 and in 1984 the runway was Mudgee region coal fields. bitumen sealed. Scone provides the only registered airport between Newcastle and Tamworth. Scone Airport, by air is: 215km from Sydney 550km from Brisbane 835km from Melbourne 3 Scone & Upper Hunter Airport – Strategic Plan 2014‐2019 TRIM‐INT‐4327/14 Currently there is no Regular Passenger Transport local government area and 63.2 of the population (RPT) service and the airport is primarily used by within the working age population i.e. 6,771 General Aviation (GA) aircraft. people within the labour force. Occasionally executive jets bring business people Economic and delegates to the area. The Upper Hunter Region has experienced above NSW average population growth over the past 10 years. This population growth has been as a result of several factors: Strong energy sector and coal mining industries located in the Muswellbrook and Singleton Shires. Increased employment in mining related service industries The geology of the airport presents challenges. Growth in the thoroughbred breeding Soils are heavy black reactive clays which form industry and agricultural manufacturing linear gilgais. The soil form linear banks and industries depressions more or less in parallel lines. Gilgais The Upper Hunter Shire is predominantly an can create humps and hollows in the taxiways agricultural based economy with 25% of the local and runways. jobs related to agriculture, forestry and fishing UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION (ABS Census 2011). The shire has a growing population with a 7% growth between 2001 and A unique value proposition is a point of 2011. difference ‐ something that other airports would The shire is a net exporter of employment with find difficult to replicate. approximately 30% of the employed residents The unique value proposition for Scone & Upper (1,700) working outside the shire boundaries. Hunter Airport is: This is due principally to employment in the energy generation and mining sectors in adjacent Gateway to the Upper Hunter shires. The airport offers access to the world renowned With an unemployment rate of 3.6% at the 2011 thoroughbred breeding centre for Australia, with Census and 3.0% based on the December 2013 over 65 studs, the largest veterinary practice in Department of Employment statistics, the shire is Australia and some of the most prominent in a strong position in comparison to the NSW international thoroughbred breeders in the and National averages. world. The largest employing industries in the Upper STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT Hunter are: Environment 1. Agriculture – including equine industries 2. Retail Socio‐Economic 3. Manufacturing The local government area of Upper Hunter has 4. Education an estimated resident population of 14,206 5. Aged Care (2011). In the 2011 ABS Census the local 6. Mining and Energy government area has 5244 households within the 4 Scone & Upper Hunter Airport – Strategic Plan 2014‐2019 TRIM‐INT‐4327/14 With an ageing population, it is expected that Tourism there will be an increase in demand for aged care and health services in coming years. Employment One of the goals of Council is for the Upper and opportunities will increase in these Hunter to become a preferred destination for industries. visitors. For this to occur there will need to be investment in tourism product (experiences such Equine Industries as thoroughbred stud tours, Devil Ark, horse interpretive centre), investment in The thoroughbred breeding industry in the Upper accommodation and transport links to the major Hunter is recognised as the second largest population centres of Sydney and Newcastle. breeding region in the world. Employing over 1,000 staff, large numbers of support industries Summary such as feed suppliers, farriers and vets; the industry is second to none in Australia. With coal mining expected to continue to play an important role in the Upper Hunter regional With stud owners of many nationalities, the economy for the next 20‐30 years, continued airport is an important link to the rest of the growth in the equine industries and continued world for this industry. productivity improvements and value adding within the agricultural sector the Upper Hunter The growth of racing in China is seen as the next Shire is well placed to take advantage of growth big opportunity and the Upper Hunter is well in these industries. placed to secure further investment in the thoroughbred industry as the demand from China Expansion in the tourism industry will require grows. access to better transport options, including more regular air transport to the major Upper Hunter Clean Energy Precinct population centres. The Upper Hunter Shire is within the broader Upper Hunter Clean Energy Precinct, recognised by the Department of Environment & Heritage as a significant region for the development of alternative energy sources. Several wind farm proposals have are already in the planning phase, one located to the west of Scone and another to the west of Cassilis. Both projects have the capacity to provide increased employment during the construction and operation phases. Regulation Coal Seam Gas Scone & Upper Hunter Airport operates under Several exploration licenses cover much of the the national standards and advisory notes Upper Hunter LGA. Exploration has commenced published by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety within some license areas, however this industry Authority (CASA). is in its infancy and future development will depend on the proofing of the resources and CASA administers the Civil Aviation Act (1988) connection to pipelines to supply Newcastle and through the accompanying Civil Aviation Sydney. Regulations (CARs), Civil Aviation Orders (CAO), Civil Aviation Advisory Publication (CAAP), and the Manual of Standards (MOS). 5 Scone & Upper Hunter Airport – Strategic Plan 2014‐2019 TRIM‐INT‐4327/14 The Scone & Upper Hunter Airport is zoned SP1 Market Special Activities (Infrastructure) under the Upper Hunter LEP 2013. The Federal Department of Infrastructure & Transport’s General Aviation Survey 2010 found Clause 6.7 of the Plan identifies the objectives of the number of aircraft covered by the survey the clause as: increased by 2.7% in 2010 to 12,564. (a) to provide for the effective and ongoing The total hours flown by Australian VH registered operation of the Scone Memorial Airport by aircraft in the general aviation and regional ensuring that such operation is not airline sectors in 2010 were 2.1 million (an compromised by proposed development that increase of 3.2% compared to 2009). penetrates the Limitation or Operations Surface for that airport, In addition the survey found an increasing trend in general aviation flying hours (including private, (b) to protect the community from undue risk business, training, test & ferry, aerial work, from that operation. agriculture, and charter) from 1,714 in 2000 to 1,847 in 2010. In addition to land zoning, the Obstacle Limitation Surface