Crookwell aerodrome

Crookwell aerodrome was reserved for public use as an aerodrome in perpetuity. Since the inception the airport governance has been changed to Upper Lachlan Shire council, when Crookwell council was disbanded by a merger, all titles and document files migrated across in due course.

Of more recent times there have been motions by the council to divest the airport lands because it’s costing an undisclosed amount of money. With there being an alleged proposal to turn it into some sort of property development, that they allegedly tried to push through a few years ago over the Christmas break.

I have been informed that there is a deed of perpetuity covering the airport land for public use, but I was also informed (third hand) that these records have been seen but mysteriously are unavailable. Source also inform me (third hand) that records within the historical society went missing about the same time-frame and that the historical society is in council premises.

There is, however, another historical account, a book that I have seen written by a Mr Cummings, that states that the airport land was acquired from the Jockey Club for airport use for the community.

Recently, however, an announcement has occurred that it was leased to a single entity, apparently to the exclusion of all other users, according to the lease proposal that was announced by the Upper Lachlan Shire council minutes. Copies of said lease are allegedly unavailable to confirm the details of the lease.

One free-hold land owner, whose property is part of the airport DA, has been recently well and truly cut-off with the introduction of recent road-works crossing the taxiway for aircraft to and from his hangar. Yes he has aircraft in a hangar, and the aircraft access has been cut. He bought that property with the LEP stating Aviation Use only, and it has only ever had aviation use since it is was a sub-divison of the Airport!

Despite numerous contact attempts, and several by a solicitor, the council has allegedly ignored correspondence on the matter.

In my opinion this treatment would not pass the local pub-test.

You may read all about it at Crookwell Aerodrome and there is the occasional mention in Regional Airport Users Action Group, the dealings are unbelievable - but actually happening in your small town Crookwell.

Thus it is sad to say that Crookwell Aerodrome has been included in the category:GA unfriendly airports through no fault of what it provided.