Those who oppose it have a right to be heard and their views respected. Most of these people choose to live in the valley for the very reasons that the proposed development appears, at first sight, to threaten: peace and tranquillity.

The notion of a foreign company controlling the airport, albeit by leasehold, is another aspect to this debate that has a strong negative resonance in the wider Australian community (especially after the leasing of Newcastle and Darwin ports).

Nevertheless, it would be a pity to see the opportunity of significant economic input into the valley slip through our collective fingers. Such development has the potential to produce significant employment opportunities within the shire, given the millions of dollars involved in the establishment and servicing of the aviation school in question.

Surely there must be a middle ground that all parties affected by, or involved in, this proposal can agree upon. It goes without saying that such an agreement should not compromise the lifestyles and living conditions of those who have chosen to make their lives in the shire because of the tranquillity that attracted them.

Such middle ground must also address the issue of foreign control of the airport, the noise factor (fitted mufflers?), flight paths which can be firmly enforced (if weather conditions prevent approved paths – no flying!), strict enforcement of the number of flights and hours flying time, unconditional local employment preferences (no imported labour/services on any kind of visa).

It would seem to me that Kempsey Shire holds the ‘upper hand’ in these negotiations; there are not many unused airports within close proximity of services such as Kempsey’s that can accommodate the needs of the aviation school.

Surely council can ‘hold out’ for a deal that satisfies all parties, especially the residents of the MacLeay Valley – council’s actual constituents. Most would agree that this is an opportunity that can be turned to everyone’s advantage.

I READ with interest your recent correspondent's call that in the interest of free speech we should respect other people's opinion. The thought is obviously heartfelt and noble but the basic argument is flawed.

Voltaire-like, what we should respect is the right for others to have a different opinion, not respect the opinion itself if it is contrary to all plausible fact and scientific data.

I give the following as examples. "Mankind hasn't contributed to global warming". "Mobile phone microwave towers cause brain tumours". "Noise from wind turbines cause nausea". "You can have farming without coal mining". "Triple antigen vaccinations cause autism in babies". " The harmonics from ship propellers causes pods of pilot whales to beach themselves". "The Macleay River valley is polluted with antimony" and so on.

Most of these inane opinions can be sourced to social media where disaffected academics (usually Americans) who, having had their unscientific hypotheses rejected by peer review, simply have it published on the Internet.

Weak-minded souls then read the article and having noted that the author is a professor or a doctor, forge the opinion that it must be true. 

WILD dogs have been a problem in the Lower Macleay for years, despite Local Land Services and other agencies receiving money from stock owners and Australian mug taxpayers. 

We had a meeting with Local Land Services at Belmore Hall on such, then another meeting with Local Land Services at Kempsey and now we have had yet another meeting at Gladstone Hall. 

At the latest meeting we had it verified that Local Land Services did coordinate a 1080 baiting program with a few local landholders and National Parks for a cherry-picked small portion of the Lower Macleay.

So what has the Local Land Services got ready for the rest of us?

If Local Land Services can cherry-pick a select part of the Macleay Valley then they can, if they wanted to, roll that coordinating out for all the Macleay Valley. 

We have a real hot spot of wild dogs at Collombatti and another at Verges Creek, Seale Rd, Beranghi area. 

How long should we give the LLS to coordinate the autumn and winter 1080 wild dog baiting program for 2017? 

I reckon we give Local Land Services four weeks to coordinate some action with Crown Land, the Indigenous lands, National Parks, council and private land holders in the Verges Creek, Seale Rd, Crescent Head Rd, and Beranghi Rd areas.

Enough is enough and after all this time if Local Lands cannot coordinate a 1080 baiting program in this area and the Collombatti area then Local Land Services has run out of time.

LLS has been been given more than a fair go so if by May 1 LLS has not delivered and implemented a 1080 coordinated wild dog baiting program for Collombatti and Verges Creek area, it’s time to bring in some ‘can do’ people.