The Design Management Group's (DMG) plans for a huge expansion at the Sechelt airport have fallen flat and the District of Sechelt is now looking at ways to develop the airport themselves.
"When we advertised for expressions of interest, that company didn't put in anything. They were at both public meetings and talked a lot about what they wanted to do there, but after all that effort we heard nothing from them," Sechelt director of finance Doug Chapman confirmed this week.
DMG unveiled their plans for the airport's expansion at a Jan. 15 meeting, saying they wanted to invest $36 million into the airport to create a new 7,200 ft. runway, terminal, hangars and other infrastructure.
Following that an-nouncement the District held two public meetings cautioning DMG that due public process had to be undertaken.
After the public meetings, the District asked for expressions of interest to develop the airport and DMG did not show any interest. Neither did anyone else, as Chapman said the District received no expressions of interest.
Since that time the District has been looking at ways to make the airport an asset themselves. Currently Chapman is coming up with cost estimates to license the airport.
"To license it we have to meet aeronautical standards and practices which means putting in things like taxiways and line marking, removing some of the hillside around the runway to make more level ground, removing the old approach lights and things like that. We have work to do," Chapman said.
Being an unlicensed airport currently allows for chartered flights only, no regularly scheduled flights, which the District would like to change.
Once a licence is obtained and scheduled flights are implemented, the District would have to demonstrate 3,000 people or more a year using the service for three years in a row in order to qualify for federal and provincial infrastructure grant money.
The District would like to use that grant money to develop the airport.
Their plans for development include things like lengthening the runway, possibly stationing more businesses at the airport and leasing more land in the area.
District staff are now trying to come up with a working plan for the airport. Chapman says that report will be before council sometime in the fall.
