![From the edge of Malua Estate, planes can be seen taking off from Tamworth Regional Airport. Picture by Gareth Gardner From the edge of Malua Estate, planes can be seen taking off from Tamworth Regional Airport. Picture by Gareth Gardner](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/200003594/005622f8-4fea-463c-b3b8-352cdebc80ac.jpg/r0_0_5003_3431_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A tract of land next to Tamworth's airport is now up for lease, bringing the possibility of travellers boarding flights to the sound of bovines mooing.
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About 270 hectares of land, known as Malua Estate, is up for grabs, with much of it bordering Tamworth Regional Airport's security fence.
![A satellite image of the land for lease bordering Tamworth airport. Picture supplied A satellite image of the land for lease bordering Tamworth airport. Picture supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/200003594/d341ff4f-9b42-4a95-9f37-a5db7509a1b0.png/r79_94_1233_728_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The land is zoned for primary production, which means any business which extracts raw material from nature - agriculture, oil and gas, logging and forestry, mining, fishing, and trapping - can apply for the lease.
But the details of the lease make the local council's intention for the land clear, including specifications for cattle grazing and an offer to construct a cattle yard for the prospective landholder.
The land also holds more than 50 hectares of critically endangered box-gum grassy woodland.
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When box gum trees, along with the grasses, shrubs and wildflowers beneath them, meet a high-quality set of criteria, it is considered by the Commonwealth Government to be an endangered ecological community.
![Would-be land holders will need to take care to protect the "critically endangered" box-gum grassy woodlands dotted accross the estate. Picture by Gareth Gardner Would-be land holders will need to take care to protect the "critically endangered" box-gum grassy woodlands dotted accross the estate. Picture by Gareth Gardner](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/200003594/0fcea524-41c8-4253-9443-d36a9114f97c.jpg/r0_0_4799_3178_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Nearly one fifth of the land included in the proposed lease meets this criteria, meaning any potential landholder will have to take precautions to protect the land.
"A band of box-gum grassy woodland, a critically endangered ecological community, runs along the water course on the property. This area must be periodically grazed by cattle as per the environmental management plan as/when directed by council," the lease proposal states.
![Malua Estate is a tract of prime agricultural land adjacent to Tamworth Regional Airport and is now up for lease as the region continues to expand. Picture by Gareth Gardner Malua Estate is a tract of prime agricultural land adjacent to Tamworth Regional Airport and is now up for lease as the region continues to expand. Picture by Gareth Gardner](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/200003594/7b2cba60-5962-44c3-8939-4e71f4cfda0a.jpg/r0_0_5042_3335_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The land comes pre-packaged into small lots by existing fencing, and Bolton's Creek runs through the property to provide sustainable access to water.
Expressions of interest in the lease close on July 25.
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