February 20, 2019
South Burnett Regional Council has decided to shorten the official length of the Nanango airfield to improve aircraft safety after failing to resolve a two-year dispute over the removal of trees.
However, this means the strip will no longer be available for use by the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
A safety inspection of the strip in April 2016 identified a “significant” number of trees were growing in the approach paths to the runway.
This meant aircraft faced steep descents and sharp climbs when landing or taking off.
The airport was closed on November 2, 2016, while attempts were made to negotiate with landowners to lop the offending trees.
Cr Roz Frohloff told Wednesday’s Council meeting that although some of the trees had been trimmed, one owner had told Council to “hop off”.
At its meeting on Wednesday, Cr Roz Frohloff moved and Cr Gavin Jones seconded, that the recommendations by Council staff be adopted.
These were:
- That the runway length be reduced by 220m to 850m
- That take-off and landing gradients be reduced from 66 per cent to a maximum of 7.1 per cent
- That Nanango airfield reopen on February 21
Cr Terry Fleischfresser said it was a shame the community now would not have the advantage of a Royal Flying Doctor Service plane landing there in the event of an emergency.
“Yes, it is,” Mayor Keith Campbell replied. “But this matter has been going on for months, years.”
Council will also have to spend $9270 on new safety marker cones and survey work.
* * *
The technical information released on Wednesday by Council for the use of pilots:
