
A LONG-RUNNING dispute over a lease agreement for Cessnock Airport dating back 22 years will cost Cessnock City Council $3.7 million in damages, plus interest and legal costs.
At the time, in 1998, the council had called for expressions of interest to use and develop the airport site, and went with a proposal belonging to vintage aircraft enthusiast Peter Roberts and his company, Aviation and Leisure Corporation. His idea was to build hangars with attached residences for aircraft owners, known as 'hangar homes'.