2019-03-12 S&O Agenda - Item 6 - Attachment 1 - Regional Facilities Plan for Difficult to Locate Sports

                Regional Facilities Plan for Difficult to Locate Sports (including Implementation Priorities) (Final Draft – February 2019)




3 RECOMMENDATIONS
This section outlines the major findings and the Plan’s recommendations for each of the four sports.


3.1 AVIATION
Activities that fall within this broad category are:               General facility requirements are discipline specific and
ӹӹ Hang-gliding                                                    it is difficult to determine an arrangement that would
ӹӹ Parachuting                                                     accommodate all aviation disciplines at one regional
ӹӹ Gliding and soaring                                             facility (for example model aero and drone use are
ӹӹ Fixed wing small aircraft and ultralights                       not compatible with Ultra-Light, gliding or parachute
ӹӹ Operation of Model or miniature aircraft (including             sport). Similarly, the catchments for the various avia-
   Drones)                                                         tion disciplines differ. Participants indicated that travel
                                                                   to facilities with the required level of infrastructure is
Information from aviation related peak/ State level                common.
organisations, regional associations and local clubs
indicated that current and emerging trends impacting               3.1.1 Need for Regional Competition
(or potentially impacting) on aviation sports are as                     Facilities
follows:                                                           Considerations for developing facilities/ sites that
ӹӹ Flyers need a formal place to fly.  An airfield is the          offer regional level infrastructure and competition
   best option.  The alternative of flying aircraft from           opportunities for each discipline are:
   council parks, school grounds or the beach is, in               ӹӹ Identification and development of one regional
   most cases, illegal;                                               level competition model aeronautical site. A
ӹӹ Clubs that have tenure over their airfield do better               regional facility could be designed to accommodate
   because people are more willing to contribute if                   additional local clubs/ users if they were required
   they have ownership;                                               to relinquish their existing sites/ facilities. At least
ӹӹ The introduction of drones and drone competitions                  three clubs have indicated no desire or need to
   is expanding participants within aviation sport;                   relocate in the short to medium term, while some
ӹӹ With the exception of model aeronautical activities,               have an uncertain future due to tenure issues. A
   the aviation disciplines require a launch site and a               key existing competition site may need to be de-
   landing site (some separate) and both with safety                  commissioned in the future as a result of impact
   requirements that need to be met and maintained;                   from the Sunshine Coast Airport expansion and
ӹӹ Competitive hang-gliding/ paragliding is best                      issues with the security of tenure at this site due to
   located in inland areas where thermals are more                    conflicting future land use aspirations by the State
   prevalent and reliable, with coastal launching sites               government and the requirements of the Sunshine
   utilised for recreational and free flying;                         Coast Council planning scheme. An additional
ӹӹ Landing sites suitable for sport, solo and learner                 club is currently impacted by a site management
   parachutists have declined over recent years;                      plan that does not envisage model aero as a
ӹӹ On average, across the aviation sports, participation              continuing use. Relocation options for these clubs
   is static to declining, with the exception being                   include moving to the preferred regional site or to
   paragliding, model aero flyers and emerging drone                  an alternative local level site that may be found
   flying, which are reported as increasing;                          following further investigation.
ӹӹ Airfields are the best option for most disciplines              ӹӹ Requirements for launching gliding and fixed wing
   (excluding model aero and drone), preferably with                  small aircraft, Ultra-Light and parachute transport
   secure tenure;                                                     are currently catered for across the four airports/
ӹӹ Approval of sites and activities are subject to CASA               aerodromes in the study area. No new regional
   – in relation to safety of air navigation in the area;             facility is needed.
ӹӹ Clubs are generally satisfied with their facilities,
   but seeking improvements to current facilities or
   security of tenure;
ӹӹ Current and any future facilities (including airfields,
   launching and landing areas) are impacted by
   proximity to highly populated areas and airports.




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