The club maintains it’s in danger of having its view of the airport taken by a large storage shed to be built by the council outside the club’s picture windows.

But Tamworth Regional Council general manager Paul Bennett said yesterday they had discussed issues with the aero club, including the need for the shed on the secure apron area for existing and additional powered, ground-handling equipment.

“There is no doubt Tamworth Aero Club will be impacted by these changing operational needs because of the proximity of its facility to the secure apron operational area and the passenger terminal,” he said. 

“These increased operational needs stem from recent success in now having three passenger airlines operating from the airport and these changes are necessary to ensure their smooth and efficient operation. However, council has no desire to see the aero club close and we will continue to work with them to find a mutually-beneficial long-term solution.”

Mr Bennett said that solutions provided by the aero club to date were temporary and did not allow for the long-term operational needs or expansion of the airport.

“No construction will go ahead without aero club involvement, however, until a more suitable long-term solution is agreed, council has been marking clearance lines at the airport so that ground equipment, which includes rolling stock, is kept clear of the taxi-way,” he said.

In February 2012, council committed to work with the aero club to help it relocate to another site at the airport and formally resolved to allow the club to “continue to occupy its current site on a month-to-month basis” after its lease expired in June 2012.

However, Tamworth Aero Club president Adele Mazoudier maintains there had never been any formal discussion with anyone at the council regarding the club’s future since her involvement.

“There were attempts by Paul Sullivan, but then he left the job,” she said.

“The lease was changed and, while we knew it was coming up, we were never told what was going to happen, there was never any negotiation, consultation or discussion.”

Ms Mazoudier said their most recent meeting with airport manager Julie Stewart was about storage, not about long-term solutions. 

“TRC may have plans for the aero club, but they have never been officially discussed with us,” she said.

“We have no minutes of any such meeting. We responded in a positive way about taxi way echo, but never did they mention anything about a storage shed until now. Our senior instructor said he could understand what they were doing, as long as they did not use the area as a dumping ground.”

Ms Mazoudier said she wanted to see evidence of when the council had approached the club to organise genuine consultation.