A number of residents have expressed concern over the Australian International Aviation College performing flights at Kempsey Airport on Australia Day, January 26.
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The college breached a condition which restricts the college from performing flying operations on public holidays.
“Concerned local residents have reported that pilot training activity began at 7am last Friday 26 January and the incessant noise and disturbance from the constant 'touch and go' training manoeuvres ruined their families' Australia Day activities,” a statement from the Save Kempsey Airport Action Group (SKAAG) said.
"SKAAG notes that this is not the first time AIAC has completely ignored the Conditions of Consent regarding operating on a public holiday after it was caught out conducting pilot training on Good Friday and Easter Monday last year,” the statement read.
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“AIAC’s actions have completely destroyed any glimmer of remaining trust that they want to ‘work with the community’ towards the proposed Fly Neighbourly Agreement. The anger this has caused within the community cannot be overstated. The total disregard by AIAC towards the wellbeing of the Macleay Valley communities and Australia’s National day, are extremely offensive and are to be condemned.”
In a statement seen by the Argus, Kempsey Shire Council manager of economic sustainability Susannah Smith responded to the concerns.
“AIAC’s management has expressed to council its regret that student training flights were mobilised at Kempsey Airport on this day and have explained that this happened due to a new roster being introduced which failed to recognise last Friday as a public holiday,” Ms Smith said.
“While it is regrettable that this error occurred, council is reassured by the swift action taken by the college to ground its aircraft by around 11am once it was made aware of the complaints.”
Ms Smith said council is working towards reducing disturbance caused by aircraft associated with Kempsey Airport through the development of a Noise Management Plan and a Fly Neighbourly Agreement which is being undertaken in consultation with the community and Kempsey Airport stakeholders.
A community reference group will be involved in the development of these plans, Ms Smith said, and calls for expressions of interest from the community has been publicly advertised with a good response received.
