During the second airport information meeting March 29, a crowd of more than 60 people came to the Seaside Centre in Sechelt to have their say on an expansion of the Sechelt airport.
The majority of concerns heard at the meeting centred around noise and air pollution and a negative effect on property values of those living near the airport.
"I live just over the hill in Selma Park and my main concern is the noise factor increased traffic at the airport would create. I don't want jets roaring over our heads day and night," said one woman at the meeting.
Another man worried about decreased property values should the airport become used regularly by larger planes. "Is the district going to compensate those of us who end up with decreased property values because of this? Because as sure as God made green apples it will happen," he said to applause.
Coun. Mike Shanks reminded people the district was at the meeting to hear what the public wanted to see at the airport in terms of an expansion and stressed improvements at the airport would not include bringing in large jet planes to Sechelt.
The district owns only enough land at the airport to extend the current 800-foot runway to 4,000 feet, which would allow for propeller passenger planes able to carry six to 12 people to use Sechelt's airport.
"The runway would not be large enough for jet planes to land on or take off from," said Shanks.
Some users of the current airport noted a need for increased safety at the site, better emergency air service for the Coast, services to fix and maintain aircrafts on site and extended operating hours.
"Right now in the winter our float planes have to be shut down at 4 p.m. but at the airport we could run until 7," noted Grant Starrs of Pacific Wings.
He said currently there are about 2,500 to 3,000 people flown out of the airport yearly. The district is looking at increasing that number dramatically with an extended runway and slightly larger planes.
Predictions by B.C. Ferries estimate four per cent of their annual passengers would use air service to the Coast if available. That would translate to 40,000 passengers a year.
While many in the audience questioned the calculation, it was clear many residents near the airport and the planes' flight paths didn't want more air traffic overhead.
"You've heard from most of us we don't want this, so why go ahead with it? I don't know if we always have to worry about the mighty dollar, but that seems to be what's happening here," said one man.
Money seems to be a motivating factor for the district as the airport makes about $7,112 a year in profit.
"That is a very, very small amount," noted Doug Chapman, director of finance at the District of Sechelt.
Currently the district is looking for expressions of interest to develop the airport. That deadline will be closed April 10. Now that comments from the public have been gathered during this second information meeting, staff will create a report based on the input and present it to council, who will use the information to shape what a request for proposal at the airport should look like.
Those proposals will result in more public consultation. A finalized airport plan is expected to be ready by June.
