Crown land transferred to the City of Williams Lake for its airport will provide revenue opportunities from additional hangar space and allow future expansion of aircraft-based firefighting at the Cariboo Fire Centre, announced Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and MLA for Cariboo North.

The Crown grant transfers approximately 25 hectares surrounding the Williams Lake Regional Airport to the city, which owns and operates the airport. The transfer consists of two parcels of land with a combined value of over $714,000.

The additional land will mean that the city can expand the road in front of the existing hangars to allow for additional hangars and potential lease income for the airport from private and commercial aviation companies. As well, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations’ Cariboo Fire Centre will be able to increase its training and other facilities at the airport.

The Williams Lake Airport is an important transportation hub for the region and home for one of six wildland fire centres operated by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Located 14 kilometres north of the city, the airport is capable of handling large aircraft, has several scheduled daily flights to Vancouver, and services a large volume of air traffic associated with the region’s forestry, mining and tourism industries.

Quotes:

Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, MLA for Cariboo North -

“The City of Williams Lake will be able to generate revenue by increasing the potential for additional hangars that are in demand at the airport. This is great news because not only will the airport continue to be self-sustaining, but it will also generate local and regional economic benefits. As well, having land available for the expansion of the Cariboo Fire Centre means it will have additional resources to keep the region and our communities safe from the threat of wildfire.”

Donna Barnett, MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin -

“This land transfer is welcome news for the Cariboo Chilcotin. The airport has the opportunity to develop additional hangar space for aircraft storage and maintenance creating new skilled jobs for our region. The Cariboo Fire Centre will also have land available to expand the dispatch and operations centre helping protect our forests and communities from the dangers of wildfire.”

Kerry Cook, Mayor of

“The city is very pleased that after five years of working together, we are able to partner with the province in order to generate revenue, expand opportunities at the airport, and allow for future expansion of the Cariboo Fire Centre.”

Quick Facts:

• The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development has yearly allocations to sponsor Crown grants for local governments and community organizations.
• The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations manages the land transfer process, once a sponsoring ministry agrees to sponsor a grant of Crown land.

Learn More:

For more information on sponsored Crown grants and nominal rent tenures and links to other sites with information, visit: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/gov_structure/sponsored_crown_grants/index.htm

Media Contacts:

Shannon Hagerman
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 953-3677