COHUNA Aviation Club disbanded last week, with president Andrew Gibbs saying the club was unable to meet the objective it was set up for — the upgrade of the aerodrome.
However, an improvement of the aerodrome may still be on the cards, according to Member for Mallee Anne Webster.
Dr Webster told the Gannawarra Times the $2.57 million grant awarded to the Cohuna Aviation Club last year, thanks to Mr Gibbs’ efforts, was still “absolutely on the table”, and she had been talking about it with the office of Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and other parties, including Anthony Troy, president of the Lions Club of Cohuna — a sub-committee of which was now managing the airfield.
“I spoke with Anthony Troy yesterday and a member of the Deputy Prime Minister’s office,” Dr Webster said.
“We talked through where it’s at at the moment, which is that someone from the Department of Infrastructure will be contacting Anthony Troy and going through the paperwork and the project, as they would like to see it completed.
“I’ve spoken also with Gannawarra council. They are supportive of the Cohuna Lions Club taking on the responsibility of seeing the project completed.
“So from my point of view, it’s in a good place. I’m certainly backing it, and I want to see it finished. So now it’s about the details. As they say, the devil is in the detail.”
It is understood the Lions-run committee is seeking more modest improvements than those planned by the aviation club.
These would involve strengthening the runway, rather than building a new one, and building new toilets and other facilities.
Air Ambulance Victoria was reportedly retendering its aviation services, a process that could result in a need to accommodate larger planes.
Dr Webster said Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack wanted to see his election promise fulfilled.
“The DPM certainly wants to make it happen because election promises are important.
“They’re important to our communities … of course not everything is within our control.
“But we certainly want to do everything we can so the community benefits from the things that are promised.”
Dr Webster said the grant had previously mistakenly been described as coming from the Regional Airport Fund, when it was actually a community development grant.
“It should have been under the Community Development Fund right from the get-go.
“This is not a competitive grant situation.”
Mr Gibbs said he wished the Lions club luck with the project but warned the grant may not be transferable.
“Any other parties wishing to develop the runway certainly have our blessing and can negotiate directly with the minister,” he said.
However, Mr Gibbs said the footprint of the proposed work was “completely different” to what was planned by the aviation club, which would have opened up possibilities for commercial development.
Mr Troy was cautious when asked about the plan.
“It sounds positive, but until the paperwork is actually signed it’s not definite,” he said.
