WORKS to develop the Cohuna Aerodrome remain up in the air as a spat between Gannawarra Shire Council and the town’s aviation club continues.
The feud began over alleged letters sent to the federal government from council, in an effort to stop the project from going ahead.
It comes after a $2.57 million election promise was announced in May as part of the federal government’s Regional Aviation Fund to improve the Cohuna Aerodrome facility to become an emergency air traffic hub — which would allow for lifesaving medical flights and heavy duty firefighting aircraft.
The funding would be used to develop the runway with an upgraded load bearing so it would be capable of taking “force and effect landings of a 737 in an emergency”, according to Cohuna Aviation Club president Andrew Gibbs.
In a document circulating online from the Cohuna Aviation Club, a letter was sent from Gannawarra Shire Council chief executive officer Tom O’Reilly to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack, in mid June, to gain clarity and confirmation the election promise remained.
Mr McCormack’s response confirms the government will honour its election commitment, and urged the project to go ahead.
However, Mr Gibbs has been left “fuming” by council’s “inconsistencies” on the matter, despite landowners, the federal government and local members supporting the project.
While Cohuna’s aerodrome land is owned by Coliban Water, it is licensed to the Gannawarra Shire Council, who in turn manage the site and coordinate sub leases to tenants.
As part of the process for the Cohuna Aerodrome to continue, council needs to “sign off” on documentation.
Council mayor Lorraine Learmonth remains adamant that council will follow all processes required by government.
At last week’s ordinary council meeting, Cr Learmonth said no development on the Cohuna Aerodrome had begun, due to a lack of direction from government.
“A promise was made during an election period, but at this stage we have had no further comment or direction from the government, until we do, nothing further will happen,” she said.
“I strongly believe that the Cohuna Aviation Club still need to do their part for the federal government and supply sufficient documentation.”
However, Mr Gibbs believes the claim from Cr Learmonth is a “cop out” as there has been “plenty of communication across all involved”.
Because of this, Mr Gibbs called for a “crisis teleconference” on Sunday to “gain some answers”, although Gannawarra Shire Council was not part of the phone call.
“The club board called a crisis teleconference on Sunday lunchtime, and then spent the majority of the afternoon speaking with advisers, members of parliament as well as stakeholders, business representatives and former councillors,” he said.
“This was all in an effort to gauge what solutions others may have been able to provide, because for the shire to claim they have never been informed of the funds, or the plans and budgets is simply wrong and a blatant lie.
“The whole funding application and all of our budgets were presented to the shire in March 2017 and it has barely changed since.
“At the time, that agreement and those documents were seen by the shire and were deemed good enough for them to instruct the economic development manager to issue a full letter of support for the application of funding and for the encouragement of a flying school.”
