Council projects and assets officer Grant Rhodes this week received approval for $180,000, earmarked for next year, to be brought forward to build infrastructure ‘‘to facilitate development’’ at the airport.
The demand came from a mixture of new and existing tenants ‘‘all seeking additional sites for development’’, a council spokeswoman said.
‘‘The airport development is likely to be slowed significantly if council does not approve the necessary infrastructure work. There is the possibility that tenants may pay for the infrastructure work instead of paying ground rent, but this would become complicated as to the apportionment of cost due to some infrastructure required to service multiple sites,’’ Mr Rhodes’ report to the council said.
The planned infrastructure includes: a 110m-long chip-sealed access road, including stock fencing; a water supply, sewerage and power reticulation; and ducting work for future installation of fibre.
Mr Rhodes’ report to the council initially proposed $150,000 to be brought forward, but he said on Tuesday that to future-proof for expected demand, a larger than first proposed sewerage system could save the council from further work down the track.
An airport infrastructure budget of $360,000 had already been approved in the council’s 2018-28 long term plan for the 2020-21 year.
At the December 3 meeting, ‘‘airport leases’’ were discussed by the council in a public-excluded session.
