Skip to content

Airport plans

Resident raises concerns about planning for Vernon Regional Airport

The proposed Vernon Regional Airport expansion will primarily benefit those who do not want to go to the trouble of travelling a few extra minutes to the Kelowna airport.

To avoid inconveniencing that special interest group, the taxpayer will subsidize the airport operation to the tune of $11 million.

The Vernon Regional Airport economic impact document projected a net 15-year return on investment of minus $59,100.

Many of the jobs and benefits outlined in the Feb. 4 airport economic impact would, in-part, occur anyway without the big expansion.

The airport expansion will have significant environmental impact on the surrounding communities.

Increased aircraft traffic will increase the noise emitted to the many hundreds of residences along the approach and departure flight paths. A German noise study concluded that aircraft noise clearly and significantly impairs health.

City council has stated it is business friendly.

Should dubious business advantage be pursued at the expense of the average citizens’ wallet and quality of life? Perhaps some basic quality of life issues such as finding a rational solution to our domestic water supply system should take priority. I don’t think the airport expansion is a balanced or good business decision for a City of Vernon investment, for what is largely a subsidized private business operation.

Howard Barber

Vernon