Council meeting pieces - 18 May 2022

Published on 19 May 2022

Responsive grants

Responsive Grants Program Recipients

Three community organisations were successful in their application for a Responsive Grant.

Council approved Kyabram Youth Club Inc.’s application for the group to receive in-kind support to the value of $960 to cover the cost of hiring two courts at the Kyabram Sports and Entertainment Centre for a school holiday program.

Moora Working Draught Horses Inc. will receive $1,000 to assist with the hire of portable toilets, trestle tables and chairs for the Moora Working Draught Horse event.

Kyabram Town Hall Inc. will also receive a Responsive Grant of $825 to assist with the official opening and the production of 15 gallery copy booklets for the Rathbone Collection Exhibition.

Council Plan Actions Completed – Quarter 3

Council was provided with a third quarter update on the progress of Council Plan actions.

The Council Plan is a key strategic document for the term of the Council, which reflects outcomes to be achieved.

Completed actions that were highlighted included:

  • Starting construction of the Echuca East Community Precinct redevelopment
  • The audit of 200 kerbside bins to establish levels of contamination
  • The inspection of 480 properties to ensure fire prevention works have been completed
  • The planting of 250 trees in streets and open spaces
  • The replacement and upgrading of electrical services at the Echuca Holiday Park

Echuca Aerodrome User Fees

Council has approved the adoption of user fees at the Echuca Aerodrome, which will now be incorporated into the annual budget.

Midway through last year, the Aerodrome Manager started a trial to collect aerodrome data, using an AVDATA Broadcast Recorder, which recorded accurate aerodrome usage data.

This data was used to inform Council of what maintenance, renewals and upgrade programs could be expected in the future. The Echuca Aerodrome currently has no income stream to support or offset the provision of this service, so the data collection also presented the opportunity to consider user fees and charges.

Since that time, benchmarking landing fees from aerodromes in Bendigo, Shepparton and Swan Hill was undertaken, with reports made available to Councillors.

In March, a letter was sent to all known Echuca Aerodrome users, hanger owners and the Echuca Aero Club, asking for feedback on the proposed changes, which was taken into consideration.

The user fees have now been adopted. Aeromedical or emergency service aircrafts are exempt from landing fees.

The fees and charges adopted at last night’s Council meeting are as follows:

User Group

Type

Fees and charges
(ex GST)

Comment

Landing Fees

Single Use (SU)

$10 per landing

‘Touch and Goes’ – 6 per hour as a ‘single use’ charge.

Access Fee General

Annual

$240

Annual fee (pro rata).

Aeroclub members, hanger owners, aircraft located at Echuca full time.

Access Fee General

Annual

$360

Annual fee (pro rata).

Local Echuca Aerodrome based commercial operators. Eg. charters, flying school, ag and haulage.

Parking Fee

Annual

$360

Outdoor ‘tie down’ parking of aircraft.