The amended report itself states:  “There is the potential for significant amenity impacts at Merimbula and Moruya airfields, as at both of these airfields, residential areas and areas used for tourism industries will be overflown by aircraft taking off and landing and conducting circuit operations.”

The submitted Social Impact Study examines questions of whether or not a development will improve our lives?  

It attempts to provide information on the project’s predicted social, environmental and economic impacts. The developers fail to show any real social or environmental benefit for the community. Quite the opposite in fact, confirming the scale of the development is larger than initially admitted, noise and disturbance will cover the entire district by their own admission. Furthermore, they have surreptitiously allowed for expansion of the development that would result in increased flight hours, night flying, larger aircraft (2000kg take off weight which are triple the size of the ‘proposed’ aircraft used in the flawed noise report and incredibly loud). 

The developers admission in their own Social Impact Study of negative economic impacts on our mainstay tourism industry and the image of the Wilderness Coast is incredibly concerning. We must preserve the amenity and the unique features that attract people to this region as it underpins our economy and provides real employment and economic runoff.  

The only likely economic benefit of the Frogs Hollow development seems to be for the developers. Predictions of job creation are unproven and highly unlikely given the developers stated in Merimbula News that they will sell the land and DA to the highest bidder. A cursory Internet search shows they are actively seeking Chinese investment, which is unlikely to generate local employment. 

State Labor candidate Leanne Atkinson said the negative social impact on the community of the Frogs Hollow Flight School outweighs any perceived economic benefit. So true, we live in a community not an economy. There is only a week left to lodge a submission with council opposing this atrocious development that will destroy our beautiful coast and our lifestyles. 

Anyone living in the Bega Valley Shire would be aware of the proposal for a large scale flying school at Frogs Hollow. The development application was submitted to the Bega Valley Shire Council last year. 

The developer has since resubmitted an amended application to council which reveals that, should it go ahead, the flying school will destroy forever the tranquility and amenity of the Bega Valley and beyond. The developer has shown scant regard for concerns about noise and environmental damage raised in submissions, and dismissed them as “irrelevant”.

As the decision on the development is a matter for a state government planning committee, concerned residents have met with the local state member Andrew Constance, and Labor’s candidate, Leanne Atkinson.

This is now a state election issue.

In the Bega Valley there would be a lot of people who would remember Bill Easdown who had a photograph shop in Carp St. He took many beautiful photos in his studio like weddings, families and children.

In later years Kevin Tetley joined him also taking lots of photos around the area. Kevin later bought the business. When Kevin passed, he left all the photos to the Bega Valley Museum. Unfortunately the photos are unnamed, so the museum is asking people to call in to identify some of them. They can get copies if they wish.

One good story is a photo of a bride was identified and that bride had lost everything in the Tathra fire.

During the war years, Bill was in the Air Force so his cousin Lorna Plumb kept the business going, not able to take studio photos, but was able to develop the films for customers. Lorna was a born local and still lives in Canberra.