Jul 29, 2009 - 11:15 AM

By Kristen Calis

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PICKERING -- A needs assessment study and due diligence review required before any decision on a possible Pickering airport can be made still haven't been complete, says a Transport Canada spokesperson.

The two studies are required in order for the federal government to decide whether to proceed with a federal environmental assessment, said Paula Fairfax in an e-mail.

"It is important to note that no final decision on the building of an airport at Pickering can be made until a federal Environmental Assessment process has been completed," she said.

Although Transport Canada has said in the past the two studies were set to be completed as early as this year, there's been no word on them yet.

"A final date for the completion of the study and review has not been determined," Ms. Fairfax said. "The timing for this is difficult to predict."

In 1972, the federal government announced it would expropriate 18,600 acres in north Pickering for the possibility of a future airport. Since expropriation, residents have been renting from the federal government. The anti-airport group Land Over Landings (originally People Or Planes) has continuously argued an airport isn't needed and the prime farmland sitting in limbo should be used for agricultural purposes.

Residents have called the News Advertiser recently after seeing activity on the federal lands and weren't sure what was happening. Ms. Fairfax confirmed there has been some activity on the land, and said "Transport Canada may consider re-marketing vacant commercial properties based on an analysis of various factors," such as: required capital improvements; marketability; demand and benefit to the surrounding demographic environment; and revenue and expense forecasts.

"Some recent examples of successfully re-rented commercial properties include the Brougham General Store and the Finishing Shoppe," she said.

However, Mary Delaney, Brougham resident and Land Over Landings member, said although she wasn't absolutely sure, she could only think of two vacant commercial properties in Brougham: the former antiques store and the former Becker's convenience store.

As for the homes, Ms. Fairfax indicated any activity taking place on residential properties is a result of Transport Canada's responsibility for its upkeep as landlords.

Ms. Delaney said residents have noticed more maintenance on the properties in the past four years, and attributes it mostly to the work of Ajax-Pickering MP Mark Holland.

"It has made a big difference," she said.

Now concerned residents can limit their focus on fair treatment of tenants, and put it on the main issue of protecting the land for future generations, she said.