Airpark vision takes off

Janette Young | 10th June 2009

BUNDABERG'S dream of a massive business and residential airpark has taken off, with the first three stages of the commercial lots snapped up.

www.bucc.bundaberg.qld.gov.au

Poll

Does Bundaberg need a residential and commercial airpark?

This poll ended on 27 August 2009.

Yes

64%

35%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

JOHN Pressler admits he is not an aviation enthusiast or too fond of flying in small planes. But he knows plenty of people who are, and do.

Back when the dream of a tailor-made residential and commercial airpark in Bundaberg - or even Australia - was just pie in the sky, the developer had seen the real deal in action in the US.

Now Pressler Developments is bringing American couple Pat and Lenny Ohlssen from Florida to the Wide Bay Australia International Airshow next month.

“They are going to attend the air show and also address an invited crowd,” Mr Pressler said.

“They live in a very good airpark in Florida and they will tell people what it's like to work and live in one.”

Kensington Lakes, adjacent to Bundaberg Airport, is a massive project in anyone's language.

It is designed to offer residential airpark properties as well as ordinary home sites, commercial lots and a business airpark

For Mr Pressler, the dream is slowly but surely coming together.

First cab off the rank has been the commercial sites and stages one, two and three of these - 78 lots in total - have sold, all bar four blocks.

“They have done extremely well,” he said.

Now he is launching stage four of the commercial sites - and he sees it as an exciting step forward.

“Stage four has got seven commercial air lots that will have access to the airport,” Mr Pressler said.

Air services companies, aircraft manufacturers, courier and charter operators ... any aircraft-related business is potentially on the cards.

“If Boeing want to come in and buy the lot and move in, that's fine,” he said.

“It's not restricted. It can be aircraft repair people. It can be refuellers.

“Nothing is ruled out.”

He is supportive of Bundaberg Regional Council's development on its adjacent airport land - and says they are working together to get a cohesive outcome.

Council's economic development manager Naomi Searle has been working to identify opportunities to bring commercial activities to the land around the soon-to-be expanded terminal and extended runway.