Wagga City Council has extended its lease on the airport to allow more time to negotiate its future with Defence. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) is set to extend its lease of the Wagga Airport from the Commonwealth Department of Defence for another year as negotiations over its long-term future continue.
The city’s 30-year lease on the Commonwealth-owned asset was set to expire in June 2025. Defence representatives indicated in February that the airport would be put out “to market”, raising concerns that it would be privatised.
Following an advocacy campaign from the local community, Federal Member Michael McCormack confirmed in May that the lease would be extended and this will now be formalised through a deed of variation.
Wagga Mayor Dallas Tout thanked the community and stakeholders for their support and said it was a positive step forward.
“We are moving in the right direction with the 12-month extension, which means that we can extend the subleases for all of the leaseholders at the airport through to the end of June 2026, which is in excess of 40 leases,” Cr Tout said.
“We believe that the 12-month extension and the willingness of Defence and the Federal Government to enter dialogue regarding a lease beyond June 2026 is directly linked to the support that has been demonstrated by the community.”
In the past, WWCC has sought to secure ownership of the airport but this was rejected because the airport was an active RAAF base and part of the national defence strategy.
With the focus now on securing a long-term renewal of the lease, Cr Tout said that is important to secure the extension before the federal election in 2025.
“There are a lot of moving parts in what that new lease may look like and to try and have those discussions and all agree on that and have it up to government with a federal election before the third of June next year, it wasn’t going to work,” he said.
Council general manager Peter Thompson said they could now focus on negotiating the long-term renewal of the lease.
“This would provide certainty and security for council and all the families, individuals, businesses, organisations and services who use this vital facility,” Mr Thompson said.
“We are putting together a package for Defence focusing on the regional benefit of council retaining the operation of the airport.
“It will also identify the benefits to the Commonwealth Government from council as the operator of this facility.
“We expect to have that submission ready for Defence by the end of March next year.”
Council has also submitted an application for a $15 million grant through the Federal Government’s Growing Regions Program to fund an upgrade of the security screening at the airport to make it compliant with regulations.
Cr Tout said the existing facility required significant upgrades to accommodate the required full-body screening infrastructure.
“It wouldn’t fit, so we would have had people lined up out on the road,” he said.
“I also understand the foundations weren’t sufficient to hold the machines.”
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