Where many around us – witness a number of smaller northern centres that have struggled to keep planes and services in the air or even attract and maintain air routes – and others have weathered bad storms, around Tamworth it’s been clear flying.

The council debate last night then about a review of airport car parking fees and the consultant’s independent report, which looked at the operation of the airport and the facility’s future, was critical in a number of ways.

Hopefully, the decision remains on track today in the wake of that review and that politics has not usurped policy in this instance.

Tamworth Regional Airport is our jewel in the crown.

It is a $44 million asset we own. Yes, that’s you and me, and the other bloke next to us and the others next to him, too.

And so far we are seeing significant and ongoing benefits from that asset. We have been for years.

While we wouldn’t be so crass as to say it’s been a cash cow, it has in fact paid its way, paid for upgrades and underwritten the council’s sustainability. 

The latest financial reports show the airport returned an income of some $4.5 million, although for the past year the expenditure actually outran that income, given the extent of the capital and investment works being undertaken there over the past year.

The fact the council has been given expert advice that it should impose a car parking fee on those who park in the long-term zone – colloquially known as the “paddock up the back” – is testament to that asset base.

It was an idea flagged a few years ago and after the extended upgrades were delivered to long-term parkers.

While some believe they shouldn’t have to pay, we do have to accept that if we are to keep it safe, secure and driving tourism, travel and work, we need to continually keep it contemporary, current and technically up to speed.

In other words, it has continue to be a high flyer or we risk losing our position as one of the stronger regional routes and aviation hubs.

We also need the revenue it makes to invest in those capital upgrades. 

Mayor Col Murray has argued rightly that the fees schedule is similar to that of other regional airports and the rates proposed are fair and on par with other cities.

If you use it, you should expect to pay for it or risk not being able to have that choice in the future.