COFFS Harbour Airport lease negotiations will progress to the next level, and Coffs Harbour City Council has resolved not to use funds from the airport lease towards the controversial Cultural and Civic Space project.

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The resolution was made at Council’s recent ordinary meeting on Thursday 27 August, following a tied vote by councillors on the issue and Coffs Harbour Mayor Cr Denise Knight using her casting vote to carry the motion.

Cr George Cecato added an amendment at the meeting to an original Council staff recommendation, that no proceeds received from the long term lease of the airport will be used to fund the Cultural and Civic Space Project.

Cr Cecato supported the airport’s lease, and stated COVID-19 was a major factor for leasing the Council asset.

“Airlines are in turmoil, we have seen a major reduction in flights here in Coffs Harbour, and a reduction in passenger numbers,” Cr Cecato said.

“How long until recovery, really no one can answer my question, and can it happen again?”

Cr Cecato stated at the meeting that Council had received “very low numbers of applicants” from the recent airport lease tender process.

“If we appoint a leasee and they put in some serious amount of money, they will do whatever it takes to grow the airport,” Cr Cecato stressed.

“If we get someone who has the experience, they will have far more leverage than we as a single operator.

“It’s an opportunity that we cannot lose, and opportunities like this come once in a lifetime.”

Cr Cecato pledged to fellow councillors that he would never put his hand up for the airport lease funds to be put towards the Cultural and Civic Space project.

Cr John Arkan spoke against the motion and expressed concern over Council giving away its assets to private operators, and referenced the recent issue with Council leasing its swimming pools and the legal ramifications that arose from doing that.

“There’s a fundamental duty of care there that we shouldn’t be leasing out things in a period of change when we have COVID-19 happening,” Cr Arkan said.

“When we lease something out like this are we consciously thinking we can’t afford it, maybe they will?

“It’s time for caution, I don’t think we need to lease things out yet, I think we need to build on what we’ve got and we will come up with the funds and methods of doing that as we progress the city.”

Cr Keith Rhoades discussed his concern over not being able to speak about confidential aspects of the issue in a public forum, therefore Council resolved to go into a confidential session to further discuss the matter.

Following the confidential session, Council resolved to progress the airport lease through negotiation, receive a further report on the outcome of the negotiations, and Council also resolved that any proceeds received from the long term lease of the airport will not be used to fund the Cultural and Civic Space Project.

By Emma DARBIN