Sydney's general aviation airports, Bankstown, Camden and Hoxton Park, have been sold to the BaCH Airports Consortium for A$211 million ($150 million). The deal marks the end of the Australian government's airports privatisation programme.
The new owner is required to produce draft master plans for the airports within 12 months of the sale to ensure that no major developments are conducted without full public consultation.
Bankstown airport, the city's main general aviation centre, is likely to remain largely unchanged. The government had earlier wanted Bankstown to be developed as an overflow facility for Sydney airport and expanded to take regional services, but this plan has been dropped. Camden airport, meanwhile, is likely to continue to operate as the centre for gliding and sport and recreation aviation. Hoxton airport has been sold with only a five- to seven-year lease, after which the freehold title will transfer to the owner of the lease.
Source: Flight International
