Originally Posted by
Traffic_Is_Er_Was
But it's not a basic service, and it's not a highway.
Quite right.
But it is still an entry point into the town. And if you want me to visit, don't charge
me such high fees unless you charge
everyone else who enters town. Afterall, ratepayers fund (most) roads in their LGA's.
Originally Posted by T_I_E_W
I don't like paying for the use of the council swimming pool or putting money in a parking meter any more than the next rate payer, but I don't throw my dummy out of the cot ranting "it's so not fair, I've already paid for all this" when I do. Or is it only selective? When you go to Byron Bay, do you also bitch about paying at the parking meter (and they are literally everywhere), and refuse to, on the basis you're bringing so much money into the town?
When the Council has paid parking, then paying
for parking on their aerodrome is fair, IMHO. But
not if they have no paid parking in their LGA - because they
are being selective in who they charge. Why charge
aircraft ("to maintain the airport and cover the budget to do so" in your words) when the
road budget for most Council's is significantly higher than the
aerodrome budget? When you go to the Council swimming pool, do you pay for parking in the pool carpark - or do you just pay an entry fee for the pool?
Would it not make more sense to have toll roads and paid parking to offset the expenses incurred in maintaining the Council road network? Of course. But most regional Council's don't. Why? Because they know full well it'd be political suicide to introduce paid parking at Temora, or Narromine, or Scone - but those rich pilots who dare fly in? They're fair game at most airports.