Federation Council's push to enter into a long-term deal for Amber Aviation to operate from Corowa Airport remains a work in progress two years after the two parties began official talks.
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Before a deal can be clinched, upgrades on the two runways, aprons and taxiways need to be carried out to meet Civil Aviation Safety Authority standards with works valued at $561,158 already undertaken.
Following a re-evaluation of the scope of works and costings a further $436,348 is needed to bring the tarmac up to the level required.
Sufficient funds don't exist within the present council coffers for the extra works needed and two applications for government funding have bombed out.
The council this week submitted another funding application for $300,000 to the NSW government which doesn't require it to also chip in.
If successful $250,000 will be spent on tarmac resealing and $50,000 on drainage and line marking.
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Amber Aviation remains committed to the deal and recently overcome an issue of securing a suitable training partner after NSW TAFE was initially approached, but ultimately didn't eventuate.
Amber has subsequently secured its own registered training organisation accreditation.
Cr Paul Miegel queried whether the $300,000 being sought would be sufficient to get the deal over the line..
"I'm little concerned we need $436,000 to bring it up to CASA standard, but the maximum grant we have applied for is $300,000 and of that only $250,0000 is going to be used on (tarmac works)," he said.
"To me the numbers don't add up. Is there a Plan B?
"Should we not do it once and do it properly?"
General manager Adrian Butler said in a perfect world there would be funding to complete the total works, but if successful one tarmac would be upgraded in the hope further funding became available.
"Despite the infrastructure issues it still has an enormous amount of good characteristics with two runways and a lot of clear space around it," he said.
"We've got some legal advice about how we can work forward and both parties have some clarity on the assets that are out there.
"We don't want to enter into a lease where parties are unclear on who is responsible for what."
The proposed lease has an initial 34-year lifespan and the creation of 180 jobs after seven years.
