To me this is nothing more than an act of pure meanness, another example of the total lack of consideration for anyone who stands in the way of the TRC .

There is ample land where an alternative site for this shed can be found.

To me, there appears to be no reason why a possible site for the storage shed is on the vacant land at the base of the old control tower.

But I am sure the TRC will find a reason why it would not be suitable.

Your readers will remember, it was not that long ago that the TRC took the aero club’s car park, in the guise it was required for security staff parking. Again, there is plenty of alternative room for such parking. Again, just another first-class act of meanness.

At that time, at a public meeting, which was attended by at least 100 people held at the club regarding this deplorable act by TRC, the main concern was that no consultation at all was given.

Probably the first the club knew of this move was when the club officials read about it in The NDL.

The TRC councillors who attended this meeting gave the aero club an apology for not consulting with the club before taking their car park (a fat lot of good that did) and gave what appeared to be an assurance that things would be better in the future.

But, no way, here we go again, the same thing, with the TRC just riding roughshod over the aero club. Talk about bullying. 

The TRC manager speaks with a forked tongue when he stated in The NDL that TRC did not want the aero club to close. Well, why is it everything that TRC does is to force them to close, as to move such a thing financially is out of the question? Such behaviour by the GM is not appropriate. The general manager should behave at a conduct of a much higher standard. He should behave in an impeccable manner. As he is a recent blow-in, I would be happy to give him an outline of the long and distinguished history of the Tamworth Aero Club.

At the recent meeting between the aero club and the mayor and the general manager, the old furphies were pulled out.

The airport draft master plan has been used many times by TRC to achieve its own ends, and to form a committee to plan the long-term future of the club, when it is well-known that the future TRC plan is for the aero club to not be on its present site.

I am of the view, following such behaviour of the TRC, that the complete council, all the councillors, including the mayor and the general manager, should hang their heads in shame and resign and be replaced by an administrator.

Such actions towards a part of our community that’s struggling to return the aero club to its heyday, and to preserve the memories of former citizens who went to war in our country’s hour of need, is an absolute disgrace. 

The most damaging charge that can be laid at the present council is its lack of representation. Who do the councillors represent?

They certainly do not represent their constituents. We suffer high taxes with no representation.

Who can anyone like the aero club turn to when there is an obvious injustice?

The TRC councillors serve no purpose, so why waste money paying them? Many of them have been there too long and it is time for them to go.

They have developed into a fortress mentality and do not in any way reflect the will of the community – to put the aero club’s future back into the air where it belongs, with a demand for pilots forecast to surge.

The aero club should have its lease renewed at the present site, including its car park, and an alternative site found for the storage shed and the security staff car park.

The club’s lease should again include hanger 6, at a reasonable rent, as this hanger was transported from the old airfield at West Tamworth and erected by club members at no cost to TRC.

With regards to council landing fees, these should be removed from all local training flights, presently $5 per landing. For a very small aircraft, this is a huge cost increase for a trainee pilot. 

The aero club should be called a sacred site or a war memorial, and be given the true recognition and respect that it deserves. 

J Wakefield

Moore Creek

Life member of the Tamworth Aero Club