Cr Britten appeared to reject reports in the local media that he had claimed that the airport runway should be resurfaced every four years, at an estimated cost of $9M, stating that “it certainly isn’t as portrayed in the newspaper”.

When asked to clarify the situation regarding the proposed resurfacing of the runway, Cr Britten indicated that “the resurfacing that was mentioned in the News Weekly basically is a resurfacing that would happen once you finished the entire upgrade of the airport ….” before further explaining that it is “a prospect that we would include in grants but if we don’t get it, it does not have to be done ….”. Glad we cleared that up.

The Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association (BVSRRA) concludes from Cr Britten’s remarks that there is no substance to claims that the airport runway will need to be resurfaced for another 7 - 10 years, even if an upgrade is completed in the meantime.

Responding to criticism of BVSC’s failure to develop a business plan to inform the future of the airport, Cr Britten confirmed that Council was working on it. He also detailed a list of activities being pursued by Council in the meantime.

For its part, the BVSRRA cannot understand how an application by BVSC for significant grants funding from either the state or federal government can be taken seriously in the absence of a sound economic case supporting such an investment.

The BVSRRA also questions the capacity of BVSC to reasonably determine the most appropriate management model necessary to guide the future development and operation of the airport in the absence of a clear understanding of future requirements.

John Richardson

Secretary

Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association