President of the Save Kempsey Airport Action Group Inc. (SKAAG Inc.) Adam Ulrick today calls on all political challengers for the Federal Seat of Cowper and the NSW Seat of Oxley to indicate their support for the Macleay Valley communities in their fight against intrusive pilot training at Kempsey Airport.
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“The recent announcement by the Member for Bega and NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Hon. Andrew Constance, to oppose any flight training school development at Frog Hollow near Bega is impressive and encouraging,” Mr Ulrick said.
“We congratulate the Minister for his stand and welcome the news that both the Liberal and Labor representatives for the Bega electorate have cited issues relating to noise, impacts on organic farming and degradation of community amenity as their key concerns in opposing intrusive flight training.”
“Those representatives in Bega have actually listened to community concerns and have taken those concerns seriously.”
“The issues related to the proposal near Bega are exactly the same issues we have been highlighting for the past 18 months regarding the pilot training college at Kempsey Airport.”
“Pilot training involves repetitive low altitude circuits - flying over homes, schools, aged care facilities, productive agricultural land and livestock. It is totally incompatible with the rural and residential communities in the Macleay Valley.”
“These consistently noisy, intrusive and potentially dangerous training activities threaten the amenity, health and safety of our families living within their range.”
“This industrial scale, pilot training operation is not in the community interest and the adverse social and environmental impacts far outweigh any perceived economic benefits.”
“The current Nationals Member for Oxley, the Hon. Melinda Pavey MP and the current Nationals Member for Cowper, the Hon. Luke Hartsuyker MP, should not take the support of the Macleay Valley communities for granted,” Mr Ulrick said.
“It is not good enough that our Federal and State parliamentary representatives bypass their responsibilities by leaving decision making with Kempsey Shire Council that involves irreversible, adverse impacts on people’s lives.”
“We are asking Mr Hartsuyker, Ms Pavey and all other potential candidates from any party contesting the NSW seat of Oxley in the upcoming NSW election in March next year, to clearly state their position on this matter.” Mr Ulrick said.
Offices of Luke Hartsuyker and Melinda Pavey have been contacted for comment.
