I had understood that the purpose of this interview was to assure us all that our fears and concerns were unfounded.

For me this didn't happen!

In fact, I was left aghast by the sketchiness of assurances that have been put forward thus far.

Instead of allaying my fears and concerns, his interview has instead only heightened them.

I would therefore suggest that in order to accurately gauge and answer, not just mine, but indeed all local community concerns, SAA should organise a well-publicised public meeting. 

At that meeting, Norm Boyle may hopefully then better be able to appease our anxieties that surround this development.

A meeting could be held at a convenient venue such as the Wolumla Town Hall, at a time that would allow the greatest number of effected residents to attend. 

By doing this, it would allow all present to hear a far greater range of comment and discussion, an independent chairperson could also be engaged to ensure a fair and balanced meeting.

The only way that a true and accurate evaluation will ever come about with respect to this proposal is in an environment where issues and concerns can be publicly debated. 

If Norm Boyle is serious in respect of allaying community fears this will need to occur.

Jeff Smith

Wolumla

I've just listened to the ABC radio interview given by Norm Boyle on the proposed Frogs Hollow flight training school. 

Okay, so he's trying to tell me that out of all the hours of training, the trainee pilots will only be in the air for 28 hours and they won't be able to be seen or heard much. 

Really? 

Where will they be taking off and landing from then? Space?

28 hours x 360 students = 10,080 air hours per quarter, x4 per year = 40,320 air hours. 

They'll be using other areas, not just over the Frogs Hollow and Wolumla areas. 

Great! Please refer to my previous sentence. 

A plane's noise is at its optimum at take-off and landing. 

Unless they are going to be doing that somewhere else, the noise level in our direct area will definitely be impacted, negatively. 

I was also informed by the interview that this process should be based on facts. 

Well, the above info is a fact and no amount of spin will change that. 

Added to this, I'm told that they're not mining or digging up the ground, so it's okay. 

No, we've had the CWF for that, so now we can have our airspace filled instead. 

"It's a beautiful place for recreational flying," I heard. 

Yes, it's a beautiful place to live too - the peace, quiet, beauty, serenity and ambiance is certainly a reason many people purchased their homes/land here. 

And now we are supposed to just let it be ruined so Australia can capture the export dollars of de-regulated Chinese flyers. 

Please tell me where the lifestyles of the local residents who pay their rates, work in the area, and have spent hundreds of thousands in house and land acquisitions are considered in this proposal? 

Getting back to exporting knowledge by importing trainee pilots...why can't we export those who think this is a brilliant idea over to China, where they can train the pilots to fly over their own regional areas? 

That way, we are certainly sharing and exporting the knowledge! 

At least this way, it won't be impacting the many people whose lives are once again being held to ransom for the benefit of someone else. 

If history is said to be written by the victors then it could also be said that progress is proposed by those to stand to gain the most financial reward, regardless of the cost to those people who stand in their way.

Beth Smith

Wolumla

I read that Tony Abbott has characterised today's meeting with state premiers as "We are at the beginning of a process here and I want the process to ensure that Australians have better schools, better hospitals, better TAFEs, better services and at the same time, that we have lower, simpler, fairer, taxes."

Now unless I missed the announcement that Bill Gates or some other very rich person has decided to fund all of these worthy projects, it is just a little bit difficult to reconcile "lower taxes" with all of the above.

I know that our great and fearless leader has much greater expertise in climatology than those clowns at the IPCC, but it has been a revelation to me to learn today that he is also the “suppository” of all wisdom in the field of economics.

Barry Stevens

Tura Beach