Don't know about the 'onleasing' part of your question but just about every major country airport was subject to the ALOP (Airfield Local Ownership Plan, or something similar) in the early 70's.
Mildura, Benalla, Corowa, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Parkes etc etc, the list goes on and on were some of the airfields
given to the local councils to administer
Coincidently the person orchestrating the Plan for the government had the initials DH, very apt. He may have (hopefully) retired by now, the last I heard of him a few years ago he was orchestrating the "sale/lease/gift" of the Bankstowns, Moorabbins, Sydney KSA and Melbournes to their current paragons of aviation service suppliers.
Doesn't answer your question, but might help with the background.
tipsy.
