Country airports’ vital role was a priority

Narrabri Shire Corporate and Community Services Director Lindsay Mason has a much closer understanding than most of the complexity of airport operations from bush strips to big city ‘gateway’ facilities.

For the past five years he has been NSW Divisional Chair of the Australian Airports Association and deputy chair for several years prior to that.

The AAA is the national voice for Australian airports representing the interests of over 340 airports and aerodromes across the nation.

In November, Mr Mason stepped down from the AAA position where he has represented NSW on the national board.

His local government career spans 30 years, in a range of accounting and business management and aviation management roles, and he originally took on the AAA role while he was the Airport Operations Manager at Dubbo Regional Council.

“Sitting on a board like the AAA is interesting from the commercial aspect” he said.

“The Airports Association advocates for airports across Australia, engaging with government on aspects like security, safety, working with the productivity commission into pricing, encompassing issues like airport charges, parking at bigger city airports, all aspects of commercial airport operations of all sizes, ranging from ‘gateway’ airports like Sydney to country towns like Narrabri and rural and remote strips which don’t carry passenger traffic, like those used by the Royal Flying Doctor Service” he explained.

“What has been particularly pleasing for me to be involved in over the past few years has been being able to be involved in securing $100 million from Federal funding over four years for those smaller airports, especially for things like improving airport pavements and runways to fencing to keep the kangaroos out.

“That is one thing that is essential when the flying doctors go out to those smaller airports.

“It costs a lot to run an airport” he adds.

“Costs are hard to keep down with so much regulation and it’s a big asset to maintain. Resealing a runway can be hundreds of thousands up to millions.

“Whilst representing NSW as a whole I have been promoting the smaller end of the airport market so they are not forgotten,

“I always had an interest in protecting the regional airports, they are the lifeblood of a country community.

“Our annual conference draws approximately 700 people each year and it is not just airports representatives attending nowadays, its government, consultancies, other interested parties joining” Lindsay said.

“To me the Divisional chairmanship has been very rewarding. I have enjoyed it and mixed with people from the industry, senior politicians and ministers. In the past I have sat on legislative assembly inquiries into pricing, mainly from the airports perspective.

“But I reached the stage where I think someone else should take over the role, I am getting a bit remote from some of the bigger issues and finding the time is another thing.”

Mr Mason’s was recently awarded the Australian Airports Association Chairman’s Award for outstanding service to the airport industry.

Meanwhile, country airports are increasingly the subject of government focus for upgrade of facilities and security.

“New security arrangements for regional airports is still a ‘work in progress’ with the federal government” said Mr Mason.

A new Narrabri Airport terminal building is included in the Airport Master Plan which was tabled at the Narrabri Shire Council meeting in December 2018.

“It was proposed that the building would be large enough to retrofit a security screening equipment in later if needed.

“The priority for us is the customer. At the moment passengers have to go outside to pick up their bags, in all weather conditions which is not ideal.

“If we have a full aircraft landing it gets quite tight in the terminal with arriving and departing passengers and even with a smaller aircraft now.

“And being a gateway to our community we really need to have something that is fit for purpose and welcoming.

“There is the potential for a further expansion included in the Airport Masterplan but that would only occur if things changed significantly” said Mr Mason.