A MAN who has been building a motel at Goulburn airport for more than 10 years has been selected to operate the facility.
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John Ferrara was chosen from a field of two in a closed committee session at council’s meeting last Tuesday to lease the Windellama Rd airport, with a further option to buy.
While the parties are yet to agree terms, the deal spells out a $125,000 lease fee per annum over two years and the option to purchase the airport for $2.5 million (plus GST) at the end of this time, or before, if a works improvement program has been completed.
The decision, moved by Cr Neil Penning and seconded by Cr Andrew Banfield, follows last year’s failed sale of the facility to Domain Corporation (Goulburn Airport) Pty Ltd.
The council is still chasing the company for a $130,000 deposit, plus interest. Despite the controversies, Mayor Geoff Kettle has stood by the most recent decision.
“We looked on it as a business proposal,” he told the Post.
“(When finalised) it will be a proper educated and properly researched decision unlike the previous one.”
Cr Kettle declined to detail the proposal’s merits over the other party’s, saying he could not reveal closed committee discussions. Nor would he say whether it was a unanimous vote.
“(But) of course anyone buying and wanting to improve the place and doing what he’s doing - it will be of benefit to
Goulburn,” he said.
“We would not have made the decision if it wasn’t.”
He pointed out Mr Ferrara had to agree to certain work and timeframes before the deal was “done and dusted”.
These include:
* To complete his motel and obtain an occupancy facility within eight months.
* To undertake work previously required of Domain Corporation, namely, install a weather information facility, a tie down, landscaping, weed management, access improvements within the timeframes set by council (up to two years).
* To complete work he has proposed, namely a skydiving centre and flying school, covered walkway, street lighting, line marking of some bays, solar or wind energy turbine energy to reduce dependence on the grid (subject to CASA approval), within two years.
Council general manager Chris Berry said councillors were well aware of the motel’s long construction period. Any party’s ability to deliver on its promises was in the back of their minds given the Domain experience.
For the full story, along with related articles and the related editorial, please see Monday’s print edition of the Goulburn Post, available from our front office in Auburn St, or at all leading newsagencies across the Goulburn area.