Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome

Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome
IATA: EVH – ICAO: YEVD
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		Richmond Valley Council
Location		Evans Head, New South Wales
Elevation AMSL		20 ft / 6 m
Coordinates		29°05′36″S 153°25′13″E
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
18/36	4,275	1,303	Asphalt

Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome (IATA: EVH, ICAO: YEVD) is an airport in Evans Head, New South Wales. The airport is approximately 1 km north of the village, and was formerly a RAAF base during World War II housing the RAAF No 1 Bombing and Gunnery School; and the RAAF No 1 Air Observers School. At the height of operations it supported three asphalt runways and one grass strip.

External links

• Airport information for YEVD at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.
• NSW Heritage Office listing of the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome
• Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome protest site

Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome (IATA: EVH, ICAO: YEVD) is an airport in Evans Head, New South Wales. The airport is approximately 1 km north of the village, and was formerly a RAAF base during World War II housing the RAAF No 1 Bombing and Gunnery School; and the RAAF No 1 Air Observers School. At the height of operations it supported four asphalt runways RWY 1836 900m RWY 0927 1100m; RWY 1432 1200m and RWY 0624 1200m. The WW2 attrition rate was high, 23% compared with the Australian National rate of 7%. From over 5000 who served there in 109 BGS/AOS undertaking navigation and bombing courses, over 1100 lost their lives, mainly in Europe where they were sent as trained crew. In 1992 the Commonwealth government handed the aerodrome to now-amalgamated Richmond Valley Council under a legally binding Deed of Withdrawal. One of the regulations was that the council was not to redevelop the site if it was going to impact on current aviation and future aviation-related uses at Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome (dedicated 19 November 1985 by a resolution of the Richmond River Shire Council). The Richmond River Shire Council then started cutting the site up for real estate development in breach of The Deed.

Subsequent community outrage saw a record petition of over 3000 signatures presented to the NSW Heritage Council, and the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome was State Heritage listed in 2002. In 2009 the Richmond Valley Council lodged its own development application to the NSW State Government to develop a site on the aerodrome for a 400 bed retirement village/nursing home. Opponents are challenging the location of the proposed Retirement Village, which sits within the aerodrome ANEF noise footprint as set down by the same RVC Council. The challengers are saying close alternative retirement village sites on the Heritage Listed Memorial Aerodrome and nearby vacant Crown Land(s) are available to suit its purpose, and protect the integrity of the site.

There are also proposals of June 2009 for an Evans Head Airpark residential site of 60 lots at the same location, which with a suitable covenant the community says, will pave the way for Evans Head becoming yet again another strength in Australian aviation towards the future.