Tamworth Regional councillors endorsed the introduction of a user-pays fee structure at the airport at their meeting on Tuesday night, with the document now going on public exhibition for a month to allow for community feedback.

A maximum charge of $11 a day for the long-term car park had been proposed in the report to council, but councillors agreed to reduce that to $10, to ease the cost burden for airport users.

Mayor Col Murray said he felt $10 “was a bit more within the expectations of the community” and that every effort had to be made to ensure the fee structure wasn’t a deterrent for passengers.

Under the proposed fee plan, there will be up to two hours of free parking in the short-term car park, closest to the terminal, to allow for passenger pick-up and drop-off.

After that, it will be $2 an hour, up to a maximum of $15 a day.

Proposed fees for the long-term car park include free parking for up to two hours and then $2 per hour up to a maximum of $10 a day.

A monthly parking pass card has also been proposed for regular car park users parking for 28 continuous days, at a cost of $150 and allowing for multiple entry and exits.

Council is in the final stages of a $1.2 million project that has added 122 new car spaces and will soon include the addition of a closed-circuit television system and new fencing.

Several councillors expressed their reservations about the fee structure, but conceded the revenue was needed to help offset the costs of running the airport. 

“We need to present this to the community in order for them to understand why parking fees are necessary – because we need to continue growing our airport,” Cr Helen Tickle said.

Tamworth Aero Club president Adele Mazoudier addressed councillors before the meeting, arguing against the introduction of long-term car park fees and criticising the council for the lack of publicity about the move.

She said the charges could lead to a downturn in passenger numbers, with people from outside the Tamworth region instead choosing to use another airport.

But Cr Murray rejected any suggestion of secrecy in relation to the proposal, saying it had been discussed in open council and would now be open to public comment.

He said the revenue stream from airport parking would help ensure the airport remained a major factor in the region’s economic growth. 

“The recently-announced funding of more than $2.1 million council secured ... to strengthen and extend the main apron has come at the perfect time to give us the capacity for more flights and bigger passenger aircraft,” Cr Murray said.

“Having secure, well-lit, readily available car parking close to the terminal is part of the range of facilities airport users expect ... and moving to a paid parking system is the logical and financially sustainable way for council to deliver it.”