the grounds that the airport and associated business park had become a “de facto town centre” (McLennan, 2002). Predictably, the airport owners countered with the assertion that any moratorium on oYce development and further growth at the airport would in eVect be “a moratorium on jobs” (Clack, 2002). More generally, Graham and Guyer (2000, p. 253) note that the aviation functions of airports are increasingly linked to on-site developments such as business parks. They quote one executive’s description of an airport as “a runway with a shopping mall beside it”. In the case of Canberra airport, the situation has been criticised further on the grounds that the ACT Government does not have planning authority over the airport. Critics argue that the relevant planning control comes under the National Capital Authority, which is much less stringent than under the local ACT Government requirements, with only limited demands for community consultation (Cassidy, 2003a).