One of Australia’s most iconic companies has joined three levels of government in opposition of the proposed Frogs Hollow flight school.
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Fresh from announcing a total net revenue of $1.44billion, Bega Cheese Limited executive chairman Barry Irvin made both a professional and personal plea during Wednesday’s Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel meeting against the school, saying the proposal “does not sit comfortably”.
It’s worse than breaking my heart.
- Bega Cheese Limited executive chairman Barry Irvine
“The impact of this will impact the whole region,” Mr Irvin told the panel members Pam Allan, Renata Brooks and Alison McCabe, and a packed house of onlookers inside the Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre on Wednesday.
“It’s worse than breaking my heart,” he said.
Mr Irvin now joins Eden-Monaro Labor MP Mike Kelly, Bega Liberal MP Andrew Constance and Bega Valley Shire Council in opposing the $10million development.
Mr Irvine said the global market’s growing interest in where products come from, means the Bega Valley’s pristine environmental image is a major selling point for primary producers.
He said the “imagery” of the region is directly linked to the “imagery” of the company, and also spoke of his personal connection to the area.
Mr Irvin shared his concerns the development may affect the company, with customers in more than 40 countries, its dairy farmer suppliers and in turn the “almost 1000” people it employs locally.
He told the panel he is “keen to see organic dairy coming from the region” in the future, and said a long term economic strategy for the region should be considered over short term plans.
Sports Aviation Flight College Australia’s corporate consultant Norm Boyle said the company, which is behind the proposal, had three board members, including capital raising specialist Jason Parker from Tasmania, and four consultants attend the meeting.
“It as good to hear from Bega Cheese, it’s the first time we had heard anything from them, but we haven’t seen a submission yet to see, where his concerns are,” Mr Boyle said.
“There were no dot points we could take away about him being against it, we couldn’t see where his firm objections were.
“We were there to understand the community’s concerns and respond in a factual manner.”
