Mildura Airport is a crucial transport facility in north-west Victoria, transferring control to Mildura Airport Pty Ltd in 2009 for effective management. The document emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement, understanding community needs, and optimizing airport operations to ensure stability and growth. It highlights the necessity of a robust communication strategy to maintain community support and satisfaction with the airport's services and developments.

1. Successful Stakeholder and
Community Engagement
Identifying, Recognising and
Understanding Core and Peripheral
Stakeholders, Their needs and Wants.
Bill Burke
Chief Executive
Mildura Airport Pty Ltd
0401 992 496
bill.burke@milduraairport.com.au

2. Introduction
Mildura Airport is a key Transport infrastructure facility in the
North West of Victoria serving parts of 3 States.
The catchment of Mildura Airport is impossible to clearly define,
but generally is considered a 200k radius.
The Asset is owned and was operated, by Mildura Rural City
Council till January 1st 2009 when the control of the asset was
transferred to Mildura Airport Pty Ltd under the umbrella of a
lease agreement and an Operations and Management
agreement,
That structure is proving to be very effective in day
to day operations.
Decuiosion making is simple and commercial under
the control of a diligent and commercially “Savvy”
Board of Directors.

3. History
Mildura Airport was established in early 1940’s as
No 2 Operational Training Unit for RAAF to give
advanced training to Pilots converting to Spitfire,
Mustang , Kitty hawk fighters and twin engine
types for heavier operations.
Through a succession of transfer to Depot Civil
Aviation, Shire of Mildura and Rural City of
Mildura, it is now operated by Mildura Airport Pty
Ltd, a company formed to operate the facility on
behalf of the Council and community

5. Regional Airports
Critical, not optional infrastructure for remote
Regional Communities.
People and Businesses located in these areas rely
on airports for fast transport connections with the
outside world.
Regional Aviation is a critical function, but lacks
formal funding structure from the various levels of
Government.
Opportunities are limited and must be optimised.
Airport Operator needs to identify and engage Airport
and Community stakeholders.
Do you REALLY understand your airport and what makes
it tick
Regional Airports may struggle to meet long term funding
demands for future growth and the airport contribution to
Community amenity must be identified and factored in.
To optimise return it is essential to get to know the asset.
Intimate knowledge of dynamics of the arrangements
with Operators, Tenants, licensees, service providers
and all other users and occupiers of the facility

6. Consider your immediate and peripheral Stakeholders and
who they REALLY are.
Aviation Related
Airlines
Passengers, friends and associates.
Cargo Operators
Ground Handling Agents.
Charter and GA Operators
Regulators
OTS CASA
Air Services
Concessions and Patrons
Lease Holders and occupiers of Landside areas.
Local Business deriving business from Airport
operations and Infrastructure.
Police and Emergency Services
What are the arrangements with those parties
Purely commercial, Professional
Or
a ‘partnership’ whereby each party gives something for the greater good of
the Community Asset
Partnerships
The buzz word with many parties, particularly the Airlines at the moment is
“ Partnering and Partnerships” but do and can, they really exist in a simple
form or even at all in the Airport environment.
Partnerships by their very definition are arrangements where separate
entities join forces to achieve a common goal.
The challenge in the Airport environment to the Partnering concept is that
the “partners” are running independent businesses where the needs are
somewhat conflicting.
Airport needing to maximise return on the asset investment and develop
reserves to provide for future development and repairs and Maintenance.
Airlines seek to achieve the lowest cost of operations to and from the
facility

7. Understand and appreciate the Community
attitude towards the Airport?
What do they expect.
Study community likes, dislikes, wants and
expectations?
Understand your users wants and needs?
Differentiate between the two
Understand your responsibilities and
requirements as an Airport Operator
Examine the Assets
Structure policies and practises so transmit a
clear and unqualified statement of performance
and behavioural expectations?
Terms and conditions of Operations
Apron and Bay parking policy etc
Detailed health check required.
Community judgement is largely based on perceptions
of convenience, service and amenity and will be
influenced by
Terminal Amenity.
Is terminal a monument or a functioning structure.
Too many “Monuments”
What life is left for it?
Examine busy hour and queue time and queue
length considerations.
What will happen if/when jet services are
introduced.
Too many Airport terminals are monuments that do
not reflect functional need. What can be done to
improve within building footprint.

8. Car Parking.
Ease of access,
Proximity and ease of access to terminal.
Parking controls and time zones.
Paid Parking
What happens to the proceeds?
Communications
One of the most vital and valuable tools for the Regional
Airport is a well developed and robust communications
strategy.
Most communities and especially so in Rural Communities,
like to know what is happening at “Their” Airport.
Rural communities adopt a proprietary interest in their
Airport and can be supportive or highly critical of activities
based on their level of knowledge.
There is no single “Right” way to communicate and all the
available media should be used.
Rural Media outlets usually have a thirst for stories and
there is usually no problem getting them to run a local
interest story, particularly if other new is a bit thin.

9. Electronic media is ideal and most people today are
I.T aware if not knowledgeable and getting a regular
newsletter out via email is a relatively simple task.
Objectives and Outcomes.
At the end of the day we are looking to achieve a stable
happy and positively focussed Airport Community and
environment supported by the local community and the
Airlines and operators that service.
The success of the outcomes will be readily determined
by community reaction and

10. QUESTIONS.