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Airport business plan takes flight

Draft recommends seeking regional funding for Oshawa airport

Feb 05, 2008 - 03:07 PM

By Jillian Follert

OSHAWA -- Two years after council debated closing the Oshawa Municipal Airport, plans are underway to make sure it sticks around for at least the next 25 years.

After lengthy consultation with the community, a draft business plan for the airport was presented to council's development services committee Monday.

It lays out 15 recommendations to ensure the facility is prosperous, efficient and a good neighbour.

"Airports are often misunderstood," airport manager Stephen Wilcox said. "People think they only exist for the few people who can afford to fly. But in reality, they're an important component of infrastructure. They support employment, business and essential services like the police helicopter and air ambulance."

The recommendations include new and improved traffic and noise-control measures to appease those living near the airport, and a commitment that it will be there for at least 25 years, as a way of securing new business.

Officials will also be looking to the Regional government for funding.

No specific amount was identified, but Mr. Wilcox said they will likely be looking to the Region to return 50 per cent of the property tax generated by the airport.

It's only fair, he said, because the airport allows regional services, like the Durham Regional Police helicopter, to operate.

"The police pay for the helicopter and the maintenance and storage, but taxpayers maintain the airport to support these regional initiatives," Mr. Wilcox said. "And there is no regional support of the airport."

Interest in the future of Oshawa's airport peaked about two years ago when Oshawa council debated selling it, citing poor economic performance.

At the urging of airport users and the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, an economic impact study was commissioned before any major decisions were made.

Calgary-based firm R.P. Erickson and Associates was retained to undertake the $20,000 study and many on council were surprised with the results unveiled last February.

The study revealed that in 2005 Oshawa's airport was responsible for a direct impact of 215 jobs and $28.3 million in value-added gross domestic product, and a total impact of 438 jobs and $57.8 million in value-added GDP.

The airport also generated $12.3 million in federal, provincial and municipal taxes in 2005, with just more than $2 million of that collected at the local level.

With that new information on the table, council ordered a business plan to help plot the airport's future.

The draft plan presented this week will come back to the next development services committee meeting with a report from City staff, then go to council for final approval.

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