The NSW Government will hold public information sessions over the next two weeks to help inform the Blue Mountains community about a lease proposal for Katoomba Airfield.
Department of Industry Executive Director Crown Lands, Chris Reynolds, said information sessions will be held at the Hotel Blue at 88 Lurline Street, Katoomba.
"The department has placed on public exhibition an application to lease Katoomba Airfield at Medlow Bath and is seeking community feedback," Mr Reynolds said.
"The airfield lease proposal is on public exhibition until August 4 on the department's website at www.industry.nsw.gov.au/lands/public/on-exhibition where details can be found on how to make a submission.
"All interested members of the public and stakeholders are also invited to attend information sessions which will be held from 11am-1pm and 5-7pm on Wednesday, June 19 and Tuesday, June 25.
"We want to ensure the community is fully aware of the airfield lease proposal and can provide feedback so that the department has a clear understanding of how the lease might benefit or affect the community.
"We will ensure that community and stakeholder views are fully considered and understood before any decisions on the proposed airfield lease are made.
"Following the community engagement period, all submissions will be reviewed and any issues considered as part of the department's final decision-making on the proposed lease.
"Once a final decision is made all submission makers will be notified and the decision will be published on the department's website," Mr Reynolds said.
Katoomba Airfield has operated since the late 1960s under successive leases and when the last lease ended in October 2017 the Department of Industry held an expression of interest process which identified FlyBlue Management Pty Ltd as a preferred new leaseholder.
Any new lease would require the development of built-in safeguards to ensure land and environmental management. This would include designated flight paths, access for emergency services including the Rural Fire Service, and restrictions on short duration joy flights, operating times, types of aircraft using the airfield, and aircraft noise.
