Most people would have assumed that following widespread community opposition, and a unanimous vote against the proposal by councillors, that this unfortunate proposal had gone away. This is not the case!

A quick review of the documentation on council's website reveals a significant amount of material, some old and some new. But at its core we see the same odious plan to inflict hundreds of daily aircraft flights across the Bega Valley. In fact, the revised documentation includes a map that reveals the true scope of daily flights, which will extend to Bermagui, Bombala and past Eden. It will not just affect the residents in the area adjacent to the Frogs Hollow site, it will impact on the quality of life enjoyed by all in this shire, and beyond.

I understand councillors voted to extend the time for comments until the end of July, and so I encourage everyone to take this opportunity to look at this proposal and lodge an objection with council.

Craig Richmond, Bega

The Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association (BVSRRA) has lodged a submission to Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC) strongly opposing the proposed Frogs Hollow Flying School.

The BVSRRA believes that, far from reassuring residents and ratepayers as to the benefits of the proposed flying school to the local community, the latest information placed on public exhibition should only deepen the alarm of the community and BVSC as to its merits.

The public pronouncements made by the developer have focused on convincing residents and ratepayers of the legality of the development proposal on the one hand, while talking-down the scale of the flying activity involved on the other but the BVSRRA believes that there are strong reasons to question the developer’s claims, in particular beyond the first year of operation of the facility. 

The BVSRRA has analysed the data provided by the developer, as tabled at BVSC's meeting on November 29, 2017. While it has not had the opportunity of reviewing the developer’s business case in support of its plans, it strongly believes that the original numbers did not accurately reflect the scale of the flying activity that would arise from the proposal.

It also believes that the most recent claims made by the developer downplay the scale of that activity even further. While this might act as a reassurance to some, the BVSRRA believes that it may be a deliberate tactic aimed at achieving approval for the DA, after which action would likely be taken to rapidly expand the flying school’s activities to enhance its economic success.

While the BVSRRA applauded the action by BVSC in supporting the Frogs Hollow community by publicly opposing the flying school proposal, including making a submission to the Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel (SJRPP) on that basis, it believes that council needs to publicly reaffirm its opposition to the proposal including making further representations to the SJRPP.

John Richardson, BVSRRA

To the Merimbula and Pambula communities, thank you to all who supported me in the ‘GO PINK’ national campaign. $1450 has been sent to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to continue its lifesaving research.

Special thanks to Leesa and Simon at Made by U Health and Fitness centre Merimbula, Sue at Boardwalk Cafe, Neil, Jo, Kendra and Tom Dawson at Steeline Roofing Pambula, Denise Dion at Merimbula News Weekly and Jenny Garner, McGrath Foundation Nurse, Bega.

Lyn Dawson, Merimbula