YSWG - Wagga City Airport

In 2018 a large number of Wagga City Aero Club members attended council chambers to discuss changes in the Airport fees. At that meeting, the councillors elected to provide the Aircraft Annual Landing Permit for all Private General Aviation and Recreational aircraft that wished to engage, and in support of the Wagga City Aero Club 2018. This decision was made in support of General Aviation. which has been suffering a decline nation wide.

There were of the order of 7 members who were eligible to immediately take up the offer in the coming financial years until 2023-2024 where the terms were allegedly surreptitiously changed, and under circumstances where the Wagga City Aero Club could not be heard. A seemingly insignificant change in terms of revenue that has far reaching flow-on consequences as I can relate to personally.

For aircraft operators on farm, and in the surrounding region of Albury, Jindabyne, Adaminaby, Tumut, Cootamundra, Temora, Narrandera, Young, Cowra, Parkes, Orange, Wellington, and indeed Bankstown our once regular visitors to the Wagga City Aero Club are dissuaded from attending Aero Club events as a result.

I personally used YSWG as my re-fuelling stop and instead now go to Temora which is much more attractive in terms of fuel cost and infrastructure amenity, and has zero landing fees.

Having aircraft forced away from an airport with fee structure sends a strong signal that effectively causes pressure and the decline of General Aviation at the airport, with follow-on consequences for maintenance and other community retail outlets. Pilots will vote with their feet as I have voted, and besides fuel is also much cheaper at YTEM and its closer to my home airport of YSCB. Thus I am now an infrequent visitor to YSWG and I buy most of my fuel from YTEM (and not YSCB).

It is rather disappointing that the changes were made to the Annual Landing Permit and this financial year council have provided and indication that they will continue with the changed terms.

The council meeting on this matter is at 18:00 at council chambers 27 Apr 2025. I will post the results of that meeting after I attend.