Comments on: Sunshine Coast flyers need a show of strength

By: P M Hyland

P M Hyland — Thu, 20 May 2010 11:48:09 +0000

I READ IN ONE OF THE AVIATION MAGS (DON’T RECALL WHICH) THAT AN AIRFIELD IN VICTORIA WENT THRPOUGH THE SAME PROBLEMS OF RESIDENTIAL ENCROACHMENT AND THEIR PARTICULAR COUNCIL WANTING TO SELL TO REAP IN THE DOLLARS. I KNOW IT WAS ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO AND THE PLIGHT OF THE AIRFIELD WENT TO COURT. THE MAGISTRATE’S FINAL DECISION WAS IN FAVOUR OF THE AIRFIELD STATING THAT PEOPLE HAD NO REASON TO COMPLAIN OF AIRCRAFT NOISE JUST BECAUSE THEY BOUGHT A HOME ADJACENT TO AN AIRFILD, AND AS THE AIRFIELD WAS CONSTRUCTED PRIOR TO ANY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, THE REQUEST TO CLOSE THE AIRFIELD WAS DENIED AND COSTS AWARDED TO THOSE COMPLAINING. AS THIS WOULD HAVE CREATED A PRECEDENT, THEN AVIATION SOLICITORS LIKE MR. CLOUGH WOULD KNOW THE DETAILS AND THUS MAYBE USEFUL IN THE CALOUNDRA SAGA BROUGHT ON BY SAD LOT OF RESIDENTS WHO BOUGHT ADJACENT TO CALOUNDRA AIRFIELD. THEY ALL KNEW IT WAS THERE, MAYBE THEY WERE GIVEN FALSE INFO BY GREEDY REAL ESTATE SALES PEOPLE EAGER TO GET A SALE AT ANY COST.
I AM SURE THAT THIS INFO WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THE PUBLIC ARENA !!!

By: Ron Fisher

Ron Fisher — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:58:41 +0000

Peter,
Warren Truss needs to be brought into this.
I don’t know if you are an ALOP airport, but Albanese has left them at the mercy of their local councils.
And they are cutting them up for non aviation purposes and selling them off.
We need political action at the highest level.
Ron.

By: Ron Fisher

Ron Fisher — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:50:31 +0000

Would Peter Ryan get in touch with me?
Ron.

By: John Kean

John Kean — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:24:30 +0000

Can I ask why you are not having the meeting at the airport, I would like to go and am willing fly in but not drive due to the distance. I am sure there are many like me. It also is the same weekend as Clifton and im sure many pilots would make the round trip, weather permitting.
A show of aircraft will get the local media buzzing and im sure being so close to Brisbane, the City TV stations will also pick it up. Remember they are only a short flight away.
If not this time I recommend it for a future meeting.
Good luck and I agree with Andrews above comments
John Kean

By: RIC D.T. WILSON

RIC D.T. WILSON — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:21:40 +0000

Just about ALL of our remaining airports in Australia should/could be heritage listed due to the unigue historical backgrounds. From wartime to present there is much to document including the old Bellman hangars used in WW11. Some airports should be heritage listed due to aboriginal remains and artifacts. That would mean no further property development by highly devious firms. It is high time that Australia got rid of bully boy property developers and sent them packing. National security is now paramount and ALL our airports must be retained for the benefit of all. That must surely be the bottom line. As for Caloundra. This is a strategically positioned airport and has played a significant role in servicing aircraft from the southern states due to the loss of GA infrastructure as a direct result of property people crushing out operators with huge rent increases.

By: Andrew Kerans

Andrew Kerans — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:03:04 +0000

I fully support the fight to keep this airport open.

However I question the emotion in the handout.

There is an election looming, two of them actually.

In Qld the result is likely to be close, so in many marginal electorates the aviators of the region, if united, can make a huge difference. However beginning with an attack on the incumbent is likely to leave them thinking they have little to win by supporting the cause. I don’t think that is smart.

The campaign should be neutral but blunt. Tell them to fully support retaining the airport and to take action to do so BEFORE the election. Marginal Liberals and nats the same, support it.

If they do not then, as a group, Qld aviators should vote against them.

Dont accept promises, accept only action.

Now Caloundra is also an ALOPS. That means the Rudd Labour Government can also act to protect it via their less than capable Minister Albanese. Now again, these guys are facing a close result, 0.5% of voters can make a difference. That means a strong, united and focussed campaign can make a difference. But if political bias is evident from the start it weakens the argument.

So, keep you political cards off your sleeves and good luck.

Andrew Kerans

By: Scott Thompson

Scott Thompson — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:15:01 +0000

Hi Peter,
Keep up the fight!
Our country airports are obviously important to a small sector of our community but few appreciate how much the wider community within these towns benefit from the employment and goodwill they attract.
Please keep me updated on progress that your movement has and you have my full support in what you are doing.
Yours,
Scott Thompson.