NIPAWIN — An extensive revision of Nipawin’s airport bylaw is the beginning of an effort to start planning future growth at the facility.
Barry Elliott, the town’s administrator, said the current bylaw focused mostly on fuel service.
“There’s an awful lot more to an airport operation than just fuel services, so we wanted to create a more comprehensive bylaw that really met the needs of the airport itself and the stakeholders at the airport,” he said.
The new bylaw, which received first reading at the July 9 council meeting and will be further discussed at a meeting July 16, requires commercial enterprises at the airport to get a Town of Nipawin business licence. It includes more information about the general operation of the airport, the expectations when operating an aircraft at the facility, the rules aerial applicators must follow, and a section about fire and safety. It also notes that federal and provincial legislation overrules the bylaw where there’s any conflict.
It does simplify life for those selling fuel. The town is no longer dictating prices in the bylaw.
“That’s a commercial enterprise. That’s not something the town wants to be involved in,” Elliott said. “For them to be competitive, they’ll do what they need to do to be competitive and profitable.”
An advisory board for the airport has been reactivated. The board has representatives from recreational and commercial users, neighbouring RMs and industry stakeholders.
“Starting with the creation of an appropriate, comprehensive bylaw, we can now start thinking about forward movement and growth,” Elliott said. “We will be working with the advisory committee on all of those elements.”
The town administrator said conversations have started about future projects at the airport, but added there won’t be anything for 2018. As well, the town planner is mapping out the airport, looking at how space is being used and where future growth could be placed.
