The volunteer members with the Osoyoos Airport Development Society deserve a great deal of credit for all the hard work they have put in over the past several months trying to come up with the plan that would make Osoyoos Airport economically viable.
Three key members – including Air Canada pilot Rob Rausch, business developer Glenn Harries and former Destination Osoyoos employee Diana Thomas – made an impassioned plea Monday to Town of Osoyoos to allow them the time to put together a detailed business plan relating to the future of Osoyoos Airport.
Four hours later, council took the first step in moving towards the possible closure as they filed an application with the provincial government that would allow them to proceed with repurposing the current airstrip and turning that land into commercial and industrial lots.
While no final decision has been made on whether or not to permanently shut down the airport, there’s little doubt council is leaning towards using airport land for much-needed expansion of the town’s industrial base.
Rausch and Harris insist there is a solution that would allow for expansion of the town’s industrial base on lands adjacent to the airport, while also pursuing a much-needed expansion and upgrade of the facility.
Rausch told council the facility could be upgraded to handle regular charter flights and small passenger planes – which would include expanding the current airstrip – by spending $1.5 million.
None of that money would come from local taxpayers and would be paid for by the sale of commercial and industrial lots and private investors, he said.
Mayor Sue McKortoff thanked the society for all of its hard work and assured Rausch, Harris and Thomas that their presentation would be strongly considered moving forward.
Harris ended his presentation saying society members are more than willing to move forward with a detailed business plan relating to possible upgrading and expansion of the Osoyoos Airport.
That work might conclude that the airport isn’t financially or economically viable and should be repurposed, he said.
At some point in time, the newly-elected town council is going to have to make a tough decision and make a decision to close the airport or allow this group to proceed with a intensive business plan report.
Considering all of the hard work this group has put in and their willingness to do even more to prepare the business plan, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to give them that opportunity.
Arguably the best point brought up by Rausch and Harris is that Osoyoos will never have an airport again if the current facility is closed down.
We suggest council approve the preparation of a detailed business plan before any final decision is made on whether or not to close the airport and repurpose the airstrip and surrounding land.
