Warnervale Airport - 25 lost years

16th February will go down as Victory Day for the Warnervale Airport with the repeal of reh Warnervale Airport (Restrictions) Act 1996.

This senseless Act, introduced in 1996 by Labor Member for Wyong Paul Crittenden, had the effect of limiting the use of Warnervale Airport so that it would never reach its potential as a regional general aviation airport.  Crittenden's motive was totally political.  He was supporting a handful of activists.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the repeal of the Act follows an independent review.

"Warnervale Airport is the only airport of its size to have a unique Act of Parliament, which is clearly unnecessary," Mr Stokes said.

"The repeal of this Act will reduce complexity, support local aviation and allow emergency services to better respond to bushfire and medical incidents."

The review was led by planning expert Abigail Goldberg and aviation specialist Peter Fiegehen, who found the Act unnecessary, hard to administer and overly complicated.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said an overwhelming majority of the community supported repealing the Act.

"Our community has given its clear support, with three quarters of nearly 1,000 submissions in favour of this reform, supporting findings of the independent review that concluded the Warnervale Airport (Restrictions) Act is not fit-for-purpose," Mr Crouch said.

Problems between airport users and the Central Coast Council that sparked the review have been ongoing with the council stating they wished to revegetate part of the existing runway and refusing to renegotiate the usage agreement with the Central Coast Aero Club.

The announcement is seen as a win for Warnervale Airport, Central Coast Aero Club and the greater general aviation community.