Locals learned of the development application when one landowner, whose property adjoins the airport, received a letter from Kempsey Shire Council (KSC) on Thursday February 9 outlining the Australian International Aviation College (AIAC) plans to expand the flying school and increase the number of daily flights.

Kempsey Shire Council director of Sustainable Environment, Robert Pitt, said the DA for the expanded flying school was advertised in accordance with council’s adopted procedure and that the noise issue would be dealt with in a separate process.

“The DA will be reported to the Northern Joint Regional Planning Panel,” he said. “All submissions received will be included in the report to the JRPP and objectors will be afforded the opportunity to address the panel when it sits to determine the DA, expected to be in mid-March 2017.

“The issue of increased noise is a matter that council, as owner and operator of the airport, intends to address through a separate process via the preparation of a noise management plan. The plan will be prepared in conjunction with airport users and residents involving extensive public consultation.”

Concerned resident Adam Ulrich said he was worried that the proposed extended flight hours of 6am until midnight would adversely affect all properties near the flight zone.

“Our chief concerns are the increase in the number of flights and the extended flight hours,” Mr Ulrich said. “I’ve done some research and the recommended hours of sleep for adults are 7-9 hours. I don’t believe the noise from the planes through the night will allow for those hours of sleep.”

Mr Ulrich said the community was upset by the perceived of community consultation surrounding the development application.

“While we were not told of the expansion proposal, submissions to council closed last week,” he said. “We only had our first meeting on Saturday and had no time to prepare submissions.”

Aldavilla residents, led by councillor Leo Hauville, are lobbying council to hold a community consultation on the proposal before sending an assessment report to the planning panel.

Cr Hauville and residents will attend the council meeting today to motion that the community’s concerns be addressed before moving forward with the development application.

The residents will also motion that council not agree to leasing any part of the airport for more than 25 years and that there be no consideration of converting any leasehold to freehold title at the airport.

“There are too many unanswered questions around the proposal and residents need more clarification,” Mr Ulrich said. 

“We’re not against the college coming into the valley – but it has to be done in a fair and proper way. Council needs to consult ratepayers, and we will be at the next council meeting.”

Australian International Aviation College operations manager Jamie Johnston said he welcomed the chance to discuss the proposal with Aldavilla residents.

“We’re just trying to do our best and we don’t want to upset people,” Mr Johnston said.

“We will do everything we can to curb the noise but we still need to run a business.

“The airport has been under-utilised for a long time and this will keep it open.”