A decision on the contentious South Tralee proposal could be fast tracked after the Canberra Airport Group's decision to drop its appeal before the Supreme Court of NSW.
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Queanbeyan City Council issued a statement this afternoon stating that the Canberra Airport Pty Ltd had dropped its appeal against council, the Department of Planning and Infrastructure and the Village Building Company Limited.
Queanbeyan Mayor Tim Overall urged NSW Minister of Planning Brad Hazzard to make a decision on the plans for 1850 new homes south of Queanbeyan, saying it had "already dragged on for far too long".
"The decision of the Canberra Airport Group to drop their legal appeal clears the way for the NSW Government to finally make a decision on the future of the Tralee development," Cr Overall said.
"The Tralee saga has already dragged on for too long and the way is fully clear now for the Minister to make his decision."
The statement from Queanbeyan City Council read that the Canberra Airport Pty Ltd had previously challenged the Department of Planning and Infrastructure in regard to the planning processes associated with the draft South Tralee Local Environmental Plan, which was approved by council in 2010 for submission to the Minister of Planning and Infrastructure for final decision.
Canberra Airport chief executive Stephen Byron said by dropping the appeal, it would clear the way for a decision to be made. Mr Byron believes the NSW Government will reject the Tralee development, based on the comments of Premier Barry O'Farrell last month supporting Canberra as the option for Sydney's secondary airport.
"The NSW Premier has been clear that there shouldn't be a second airport in Sydney because of houses on the flight paths," Mr Byron said.
The appeal was due to be heard in the Supreme Court of NSW, Court of Appeal next week.
