Council: Scone Airport Tenders Awarded

LAST night Council voted to accept tenders for the Scone Regional Airport development.

The Airport Independent Review has not yet been released to the public, but last night’s agenda noted the report concluded to support option 4, the full implementation of the masterplan for the airport.

The Council agenda noted the report stated:

Over a 30-year period the net economic benefit to the community is projected under the three scenarios above at: 1) $121.33m, 2) $71.81m, and 3) $64.99m respectively.

Over the same 30-year period, the financial analysis showed a net present value (i.e. the 30-year cash flow expressed in “today’s dollars”) under the three scenarios of:

1. positive $6.92m (average $230k p/a),
2. a $2.09m loss (average $69k loss p/a) and
3.  a $4.46m loss ($147k loss p/a).

It should be noted that both 2) and 3) represent a lesser amount than the current annual net operating cost of the Airport.

The discussion pertaining to the report, was held in closed Council and it is currently not known how Councillors voted on the report. 

The tenders awarded include:

• Kingston Building Pty Ltd for $7,298,214.20 for the design and construction of scone warbirds visitor attraction and terminal building including the theatre and curved roof options;
• Daracon Pty Ltd for airside infrastructure upgrade (figure not quoted);
• Airport Lighting Specialist for the design and supply of the new ground lighting and apron flood lighting for $423,096.30;
• Freeman Ryan Design – design, development and installation of the visitor attractions audio visual $373,175.00;
• Geosim Technology Pty Ltd for the design supply and installation of and the Spitfire and Bristol – spitfire and Bristoll fighter flight simulators for a total of 155,551, and
• K&S Freighters Pty Ltd trading as Aero Refuellers to construct bulk fuel storage and be a seller of avgas and jet A1 fuel at Scone regional airport (figure not quoted).