Folks,
Anybody who has read an ALOP contract between the councils and the Commonwealth will know that a condition of the contract is that an airport remains.
However, the "department" long ago declared that this condition was "out of date" (wouldn't it be great if we could declare contract conditions "out of date") and we have already lost some or all of a number of airports. It was John Anderson who was conned (and I do mean conned) into signing a policy document on the subject -- wishing (or is that washing) away said inconvenient contract provisions.
This is what the "department" calls "light handed regulation", ie: non-enforcement of inconvenient requirements of a contract.
We all know about the "influence" of property developers, and where short term profits bury long term needs.
I am looking forward to equal treatment of all council infrastructure, (it has been mooted in some places) where there will be user charges for all council property, including local road, footpaths etc.
Seriously, some councils have been smart enough to realise the local airport is an asset, not a liability, but these enlightened councils are few and far between.
Tootle pip!!