DEVELOPMENT OF CONCEPT PLAN FOR MORUYA AIRPORT

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The Eurobodalla Shire Council is looking to engage the services of an experiencedairport planning consultant to prepare an Airport Concept Plan. These Terms ofReference cover -

• The purpose of the assignment• The task to be carried out.• The expected outcomes• The role of the consultant• Community consultation• Document preparation• Modifications• Timetable

1. The purpose of the assignment.

The Eurobodalla Shire Council wishes to prepare an Airport Concept Plan to guidethe future development and operations of the Moruya Airport. The objectives of theproject can be stated as follows -

(a) Developing aviation related business and jobs (Economic Development).(b) Overcoming the revenue shortfall (generating a return on assets, and cash flow

to fund operating costs and longer term capital expenditure on runway andinfrastructure upgrades e.g lighting).

(c) Improving tourism infrastructure through construction of a new ‘Nature Coast’regional terminal and secure parking complex.

(d) Protecting and enhancing the sensitive coastal components of the airport area(coastal dunes, primitive camping area) by determining that development willbe focussed onto the western side of the main runway (apart from a smallaviation specific tourism precinct directed at the aviation users on the site ofthe current terminal/parking/fuel depot).

(e) Creating a community asset in which the community can be proud as thegateway to the shire.

Council has endorsed several principles that will guide the project –

• Protect sensitive coastal environment within and around the airport precinct.• Moderate, low impact aviation related development and activities.• High quality development that will maximise business opportunities, and returns.• Retain both runways.• General Aviation driven approach based on market opportunities.• A comprehensive community consultation process, that will also include direct

consultation with airport users, local residents, coastal management interests,tourism and business development representatives, other community interestedparties, and State and Federal agencies.

• Plans must be achievable within the planning framework.

The preparation of the Airport Concept Plan will involve extensive community andstakeholder consultations, together with regular briefings to Council.

2. The task to be carried out.

The task will be to assess the potential for development options within the AirportPrecinct which will make best economic, operational and environmental use of theavailable land.

At this stage, Council believes the following may be achievable –

• A new specific purpose aviation business/hangar park on the western side of themain runway

• A new ‘Nature Coast’ regional terminal and secure parking complex• Relocation of the current fuel facilities from the waterfront across to the George

Bass Drive (western) side of the main runway.• A low density, quality residential airpark on the western side of the main runway• Reclamation of the current terminal/fuel/asphalt area and creation of a small

accommodation precinct directed at aviation users.• Maximising the potential of the existing hangar precinct.

Council has determined to preserve the Primitive Camping Ground adjacent to theAirport.

3. The expected outcome.

It is expected that the consultant will produce an Airport Concept Plan that willmaximise the potential returns to Council through growth opportunities in aviationrelated business and activities, improved community facilities, the smooth and secureinteraction between the land and air side, and including current and potential futureuser needs. The Plan will be achievable within the planning framework, comply withall airport operational requirements, and be to a level of detail that will facilitatefinancial analysis as to long term viability.

The Concept Plan will be based on broad community consultation, includingconsultation with specific interest groups and Council throughout the process. Whencompleted the Concept Plan will be presented to Council for formal consideration

4. The role of the consultant.

The consultant will be expected to work with Eurobodalla Shire Council to achieve aninnovative but practical and achievable Concept Plan for the airport. The project planshould (as a minimum) include the following -

Initial research stage• Initial meeting with Council staff• Airport inspection and review of recent Annual Safety Inspections and CASA

Audits, review of recent approach survey results and assessment of obstacles

• Review of the physical characteristics of the airport and surroundingdevelopment, landholding, land uses, terrain, environmental constraints,available developable land and the airport’s regional context

• Review of previous development proposals• Review Eurobodalla Shire Council tourism strategy and define where airport

development may complement objectives• Review the current level of infrastructure supporting airport development

including ground transport links, utilities, airport assets and maintenancecommitment

• Review of current Obstacle Limitation Surfaces and Council’s procedures fordevelopment control

• Liaise with key Council personnel including the Business DevelopmentManager, Tourism Manager, Airport Officer and planning, engineering andproperty staff, as well as senior management.

• Review of the financial performance of the airport• Interview key airport users to gauge current and future aviation development

requisites and infrastructure requirements – RPT, freight, and charteroperators, flying training, ultralight, aircraft maintenance and manufactureorganisations, RFS, Air Ambulance and other emergency services users, andassociated tourist operators

• Prepare a SWOT analysis to highlight key constraints and opportunities for thefuture development of the airport, and in particular the potential for premiumresidential airpark and commercial aviation and hangar development.

• Review Council’s expectations with respect to the presentation of the ConceptPlan

• Brief Council’s management and elected representatives on initial views anddirection of the project, and seek feedback.

Plan development stage• Define the basis of airfield planning in terms of ultimate design aircraft,

airspace and runway classification (Code, length, pavement width, runwaystrip width, operational status ie GPS Non-Precision Approach), ultimatetaxiway development, apron requirements and aircraft parking demand,requirements for airport navigation aids or lighting upgrades

• Establish development building setbacks from the aircraft movement areas toensure that future airside development capability, and capacity is notconstrained, and establish building height constraints associated with theObstacle Limitation Surfaces

• Identify the available land for residential airpark development• Identify the potential demand and markets for premium residential airpark

development and any specific needs in terms of lot size.• Develop broad airport facility requirements and spatial demands – RPT /

charter apron, terminal reserve, fuel storage, navigation aid reserves, hangarreserves, aircraft parking, ground access, carparking and landscaping reserves

• Define key environmental protection areas and physical constraints on futuredevelopment

• Define enhancements to the environment ie. landscaping• Prepare detailed Concept drawing to identify key aviation reserves required to

support future airport operations.

Presentation stage• Finalise the draft Airport Concept Plan and associated reports• Formally present the Airport Concept Plan to Council’s elected representatives

and the community• Assist Council staff with the preparation of draft planning documents such as

DCP’s• Provide ongoing support to Council with respect to the Plan to achieve formal

approval as a Master Plan for the site.

Community ConsultationThe consultant will work with Council’s Business Development Manager to develop acommunity consultation plan for the project. Consultation with specific interestgroups and the broader community will require the input of the consultant.Attendance at such meetings during the course of the project should be factored in bythe consultant. Every effort will be made to organise such meetings around scheduledvisits by the consultant.

Document PreparationThe Consultant will be responsible for all document production. The costs of all suchdocument preparation will be paid by Council, however the consultant must confirmexpenditure with the Business Development Manager prior to any commitments. Ifany work can be undertaken by staff within Council as the project progresses this willbe by agreement of the parties.

Eurobodalla Shire Council expects at a minimum regular fortnightly visits from theconsultant to Council offices to ensure continuing interaction with Council staff.

Modifications.During the term of the consultancy, Eurobodalla Shire Council and the Consultantaccept that modifications to the project plan and terms of reference may be necessary.Changes will be possible after consultation and written agreement on the terms andconditions of changes by both parties.

Consultant must be able to satisfy the following -

• Quotation must include GST component.• Consultant must be able to comply with quotation.• Consultant must declare no pecuniary interests in the operations of Moruya

Airport.

Timetable.Project is expected to commence by the end of May 2005, with an expectation that theConcept Plan can be approved by Council within six months.

The Concept Plan project will be managed by the Business Development Manager ofCouncil (Greg Bowman),Phone: 44 741271Mobile: 0416 237 016Email greg.bowman@eurocoast.nsw.gov.au