Sechelt council wants staff to find out what’s required to increase the number of leased lots on the district’s airport property in Wilson Creek.
Councillors recommended that staff investigate after receiving a report at the Aug. 9 finance committee meeting that looked at a business plan for the airport completed in 2014 for the outgoing council.
The 2014 business plan focused on expanding the airport and its runway to provide twice-daily flights between Sechelt and Vancouver. The report estimated a generation of $4.5 million in profit over 25 years, with the cost to expand the airport service estimated at $11.5 million.
At the time, the business plan suggested the funds for expansion could be found through grants from senior levels of government; however, staff is doubtful the funding earmarked in 2014 is still available.
Further complicating things, director of finance Doug Stewart said the business plan itself was flawed as it didn’t answer whether there was a real demand for regular flights between the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver’s main airport.
“The question for the consultant was ‘could we support an expansion at the airport,’ versus the question of ‘should we be considering expanding the airport,’” said Stewart at the Aug. 9 finance meeting.
His staff report suggested that council ask the Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Organization to consider adding a review of the need for expanded air service to their future work plan and councillors at the finance meeting agreed.
Councillors also endorsed Stewart’s other recommendation to allow staff to investigate what needs to happen to increase the number of leased lots at the airport as a way to help generate some money for an expansion in the future, should it be warranted.
The district could take revenues from the leased lots and hold them in a fund until expansion.
Stewart noted he’s received several calls of inquiry for leased lots at the airport since he started with the district in May of last year, adding, “The demand is out there.”
There are about 21 hectares of land that could be leased at the airport in Wilson Creek.
Currently the District of Sechelt has 15 tenants leasing about six hectares, which generates about $30,000 in revenue each year.
