The Cowichan Valley needs its own airfield to serve the growing community, local businesses and to provide a lifeline in case a natural disaster cuts off road access, says the past-president of the Duncan Flying Club.
John Howroyd said he is welcoming the Cowichan Valley Regional District’s decision to have a feasibility study for an air-transport facility.
“I think it is wonderful because that is a sign that there is a recognition of a need in this area for a useful airfield,” Howroyd said.
It would bring in tourists, support businesses and help diversify the economy, Howroyd said. There’s no need for jet traffic, but smaller planes and helicopters could be used, he said.
Howroyd worries about the impact of a natural disaster, such as an earthquake, which could prevent vehicles coming north from Victoria or south from Nanaimo, noting that there is only a few day’s supply of food in the valley, he said.
“I’m really happy that the regional district is showing initiative to investigate that and solve that problem, from a public-safety point of view.”
Airports bring in “tremendous revenue and provide a lot of associated jobs locally,” Howroyd said. He suggests that a new facility could include rental properties to generate revenue.
The Victoria Airport Authority, for example, has a range of tenants on its lands, including retail and manufacturing businesses that all provide revenue for that facility. “The future is not going to stop. There are more people coming to the valley,” he said.
Amy Melmock, economic development manager with the regional district, said Wednesday the valley’s population is projected to reach 100,000 by 2050, up from 80,000 now. The regional district includes nine electoral areas and four municipalities.
Its tourism sector promotes such activities and attractions as its wineries, distilleries, cideries and breweries, outdoor activities, farms and the Kinsol Trestle.
As the regional district investigates the feasibility of some kind of airfield, time is running out for the Flying Club’s small leased facility on Langtry Road, Howroyd said. It has a five-year lease with property owner Butler Brothers Supplies, which is excavating its gravel pit at the site. At some point, the excavation will overtake the leased area.
The 50-year-old club has a 1,500-foot-long runway.
Along with flying club members, the facility is used by a variety of groups, Howroyd said. The RCMP has used it with planes and helicopters when necessary and at times it is a backup facility for medical helicopters.
Part of any economic development function for a region is looking at transportation options.
Melmock said a facility could support technology in the area, advanced manufacturing and tourists who might want to arrive in a six-passenger plane. She’s thinking of a facility that would support and suit the community — not a large airport that would bring in regular commuter jet service or compete with the Nanaimo airport.
She also raised the issue of public safety, saying a local facility could be used to evacuate people in an emergency, as well as bring in supplies.
The idea is to look at a sustainable operation, which means exploring costs, revenue sources, governance models, regulations, potential sites, possible runway lengths, potential for expansion and community impacts.
The feasibility study has an all-inclusive budget of $30,000 and the report is to be submitted to the board in September.
Letters of support for the study note that air transport has “important links to the development of key sectors in the region such as tourism, forestry, tech and manufacturing,” the regional district said in its request for proposals. The study will look at the business case for new air-transport services based on its growing population and how it would address public safety needs.
Consultation with various interests would take place and a project advisory panel would be set up.
