THE Launceston Airport has responded to the Northern Midlands Council's rates campaign, saying that rate negotiations were under way before the council's campaign launch.
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Launceston Airport general manager Paul Hodgen said the campaign was unnecessary as the two parties were working towards a set rate.
"Launceston Airport believes that ratepayers of Northern Midlands Council should be concerned at the costs involved in Northern Midlands Council's public campaign, particularly when a process to resolve the issue was under way," he said.
"Launceston Airport is exercising its right to challenge the valuation process, and is disputing the amount of the proposed new ex-gratia rate equivalent payments as they do not reflect market value for the commercial sites on the airport."
Mr Hodgen said the airport based the rates it paid the council in ex-gratia payments on a valuation commissioned by an independent valuer following the Tasmanian Valuer-General's 2012 valuation, commissioned by the Northern Midlands Council.
After Northern Midlands mayor David Downie met with federal Local Government Minister Paul Fletcher, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's chief of staff and opposition infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese in Canberra on Thursday, a third valuation of Launceston Airport will be conducted by the Department of Infrastructure.
"Launceston Airport will abide by the decision and valuation made by the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development's independent expert and encourages Northern Midlands Council to make the same commitment," Mr Hodgen said.
Cr Downie said the Northern Midlands Council hoped the re-valuation resulted in a resolution. "We've always said that we'll commit to the independent valuation." ■ Launceston Airport has its say: www.examiner.com.au.
