BRESLAU — The Region of Waterloo wants public feedback on the $34.5-million first stages of a potential airport expansion.

In June, regional government hosted its first public consultation centre to deliver information on expanding runways and upgrading other infrastructure at the Region of Waterloo International Airport.

"These kinds of meetings inform the public as to what the long term master plan for the airport looks like so it doesn't catch them unaware," said Regional Chair Karen Redman.

The region wants feedback as part of the design phase of improvements.

Proposed plans stem from the $375-million airport master plan politicians approved in 2017. It will guide growth at the airport for 20 years.

According to that plan, the region should be prepared to construct improvements prior to reaching passenger targets that trigger the upgrades. In total there are five phases to be triggered by passengers.

Coun. Sean Strickland isn't convinced the region should be going ahead with the design work at all, especially after spending about $10 million on land acquisitions for the airport in 2018.

When the region approved the master plan it also committed to limiting the annual taxpayer contribution to $6 million.

"Our airport is a very valuable asset but has underperformed in terms of passenger traffic and cargo traffic pretty well since the region has taken over ... If we're going to spend more money on the airport then we need to have a return on investment," he said.

In 2018, the airport drew 80,000 passengers.

To build the first runway extension the airport needs 250,000 passengers.

Coun. Tom Galloway said that can happen overnight so the region needs to be ready to accommodate new airlines.

"The master plan directs us. We don't have to do it, but it directs us to do all the planning that would be necessary to implement the next phase," Galloway said. "What happens in aviation is all of a sudden you get two new flights or another company comes in and they want to start in two months' time."

Staff predict the region will hit 250,000 passengers in 2021 and 500,000 in 2025, according to a public information package.

Once the airport reaches 250,000 passengers, the region's shortest runway will be expanded to provide safer landings in bad weather and also support larger aircraft with more passengers. An additional runway expansion is planned in a second phase.

Matthew Chandy, manager of the region's office of economic development, said the runways are key to attracting new airlines.

"It's a safety and reliability issue but also it's very important when we're going out and trying to attract new airlines to the region," Chandy said. "One of the first questions (airlines) always ask us is about our runways."

With the plans come potential impacts.

One of the most controversial issues with the Breslau airport has been noise. Nolinor, an Arctic charter that flew to Baffin Island, blamed resident pushback and regional requirements related to noise for its exit from the airport in early 2016.

According to the region, noise impacts of the expansion would increase in some areas and decrease in others.

A map of noise impacts from the year 2000 and projected impacts for 2035 shows decreases on the southwest side of the airport and increases mostly to the northeast and southeast.

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Chris Wood, airport general manager, said noise complaints have decreased.

"We do think that the noise situation, especially over Kitchener, will get a bit better," he said. "I think noise has, pardon the pun, really quieted down over the last couple of years."

Shantz Station Road will get a makeover as part of the Runway 26 extension. That won't go ahead until the airport reaches 500,000 passengers.

The region is presenting two options to the public for the Shantz Station piece, which isn't included in the $34.5 million budgeted for runway expansions.

The first option is to tunnel Shantz Station Road under the Runway End Safety Area. The second option is to realign Shantz Station Road around the Runway Safety End Area and other airport access roads.

The region's airport zoning regulations are also being updated, mostly to regulate the height of structures and to a lesser degree land uses near the airport.

Additional public consultation for the project will take place in coming months.

The regional airport currently has three airlines offering flights. WestJet runs daily non-stop service to Calgary. FlyGTA Airlines offers three flights daily to Toronto Island on weekdays. SunWing Airlines offers weekly service to Punta Cana and Dominican Republic on Wednesdays from December through March.

More information on the airport master plan and proposed expansion can be found at waterlooairport.ca/masterplan. Comments on the plan can also be submitted at that site.

An online tool is also available for property owners to check proposed regulations by entering their addresses. Click on the airport zoning regulations update tab at the master plan site.

pdesmond@therecord.com

Twitter: @DesmondRecord