At present, the hours of operation are restricted to Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm and 7am to 5pm on weekends, with no operation permitted on public holidays.

Night flying is allowed until 10pm on no more than 12 days per calendar year but is not permitted under any circumstances on Saturdays, Sundays and/or public holidays.

The proposed condition would see circuit training operations conducted from 7am to 10pm from Monday to Friday during the period of Daylight Savings and from 7am to 9pm throughout the other months of the year.

The School would also be able to operate on Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 8pm all year round.

Over 800 letters have been mailed across the Macleay this week, informing residents of the application received by Kempsey Shire Council to modify the development consent for the pilot training facility.

Council has taken the extraordinary measures to inform the public following a resolution at the February Council meeting, to seek maximum community awareness of any further development applications at the Airport.

The mailout, plus almost 200 additional email copies, has been sent to owners of properties surrounding the airport, people who have made submissions with respect to the pilot training facility or airport noise and people who attended the airport community workshops in 2017.

The correspondence includes a copy of the report submitted by the applicant, Australian International Aviation College, explaining the modifications they are seeking.

Council General Manager, Craig Milburn advised that the application relates to the existing operations of the College at the Airport, not the formerly proposed $18 million expansion.

“The current development consent that the College operates under is due to expire in early June this year. This application seeks to extend those operations to June 2020 and seeks modifications to the hours of operation. 

“Council have commenced the formal two-week notification period and are taking proactive steps to ensure the community is aware of the proposal and how they can make a submission,” said Mr Milburn.

The proposal will be assessed by a suitably qualified person who is independent of Council.

The Assessor will review the application against the relevant planning legislation along with any submissions made and provide a recommendation to the Council.

Council will consider the recommendation at an upcoming public Council meeting and will be responsible for deciding on the application.

“The application is available to review from Council’s website under the documents on exhibition section, or at Council’s Tozer Street offices.

“Submissions close on the 23rd of April and we encourage anyone with an interest in this matter to share their opinion in writing,” concluded Mr Milburn.