Warbirds Visitor Attraction & Terminal, Scone Regional Airport, Scone NSW

⁠⁠⁠The Scone Regional Airport is a general aviation airport serving the Upper Hunter Shire. The Airport acts as a base of operation for seven commercial aviation operators, a local aero club and a number of owners and operators of light aircraft. The commercial activities located at the Airport include charter flights, aerial agriculture, flight training, aircraft manufacturing and aircraft maintenance. There is significant use of the Airport by aviation operators based outside the Upper Hunter; with domestic and international corporate jet operators supporting the local equine industry, mining, farming industry and heavy plant and equipment industries.

With the approval of the New England Highway bypass of Scone, Upper Hunter Shire Council (UHSC) is committed to projects that will enhance Scone, to ensure the area continues to grow and thrive. It is with this in mind that UHSC has developed a Destination Management Plan and Town Centre Master Plan for Scone. Part of that strategy is to develop new tourism infrastructure products that will support the Upper Hunter.

To support the development of tourism, UHSC completed an Airport Master Plan in 2016 to identify how the Airport can be a key resource to the changing environment of Scone. The master plan identified opportunities for aviation business growth, with the key opportunity being a Warbird Visitor Attraction (WVA) supporting the strategic direction for UHSC.

It is envisaged that the project will ensure aviation services at the Airport can support the local business operators and required airport Services, along with enabling the Airport to become Australia's newest aviation tourism mecca with the construction of a tourism attraction including new terminal. Upon completion, this project will launch the Airport to new heights becoming one of a few aviation attractions in the world offering the opportunity for joy flights in World War II aircraft and exhibiting the restoration works of the warbird aircraft.

The WVA is envisioned to be a nationally significant visitor attraction and has been identified as a 'game-changer' for the Upper Hunter. As such, the WVA is designed to increase local and regional tourism and generate increased value for the UHSC visitor economy by increasing visitation to the area, encouraging longer average length of stay, increasing visitor expenditure and promoting the Upper Hunter as a tourism destination in its own right.

Upper Hunter Shire Council is now seeking tenders for the Detailed Design and Engineering, based on the completed conceptual design.