The state’s longest serving local government representative has slammed the Launceston City Council for not standing up to the region’s airport in an ongoing rates dispute.
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Clarence City Council deputy mayor and Australian Mayoral Aviation Council president Jock Campbell expressed his frustration at the ongoing rates dispute between the Launceston Airport and the Northern Midlands Council.
The stoush was made public in mid-2015. The Northern Midlands Council maintains that $1.35 million is due for outstanding rates, with the balance growing by at least $280,000 annually. With a 10 per cent stake in the airport the Launceston City Council is considered a major shareholder.
Alderman Campbell called on the council to stand with the Northern Midlands and urge the airport to pay the rates.
“It’s an absolute disgrace that they won’t back up Northern Midlands and see that they get paid,” he said. “Their behaviour is a disgrace to local government.”
Alderman Campbell said Launceston would benefit from the Northern Midlands securing outstanding rates. He said that money would be spent across the Northern Midlands inclusive of the boundary with Launceston.
City of Launceston general manager Robert Dobrzynski said the council would not get involved.
"We would respectfully remind critics that the Launceston Airport is not within the city council's boundaries,” he said. "The matter is one between the Northern Midlands Council and the Launceston Airport to resolve." The “round and round” issue continues to frustrate Alderman Campbell. He called on the federal government to intervene and rule that the airport “pay the outstanding rates”.
