COUNCIL’S INACTION PUTS AIRPORT FUNDING AT RISK
Dear Editor,
This is becoming absurd.
An urgent grant opportunity for Shepparton Airport was raised with Greater Shepparton City Council on June 22, in plenty time for action. The Federal Government’s Regional Airports Program Round 5 is currently open, and this is exactly the type of funding program Council should be pursuing for essential airport planning, safety and infrastructure works. Up to $5,000,000 available.
Instead, the matter has been passed from the Mayor, to Infrastructure, to another officer assistant, then to Infrastructure Preservation. The final nominated contact is now apparently away until July 15, which is conveniently after the grant deadline.
That is not responsible asset management. It is delay by handballing until the opportunity expires. Council’s written response acknowledged the important role Shepparton Airport plays in supporting emergency services, aeromedical operations, aviation activity and regional connectivity. It also stated there is no dedicated budget allocation for major aerodrome upgrades or grant co-contributions in the current financial year.
That logic is completely backwards.
Council cannot keep saying there is no budget for Shepparton Airport while failing to act on the very grant programs designed to help solve that funding problem. If there is no airport capital budget and no master planning budget, then available external funding should be treated as urgent, not optional.
Shepparton Airport supports fixed-wing air ambulance transfers, emergency services, firefighting aircraft, aviation training, business access and regional connectivity. These are essential regional services, not luxuries. The ambulance has been calling out for a basic shelter for over five years and we provided plans.
Council has also acknowledged the value of a contemporary aerodrome master plan, but has allocated no funding for one. Again, this is exactly why grant opportunities matter.
The airport user group has repeatedly offered to assist with practical information, operational priorities and supporting evidence. But Council must lead the application. Instead, we are ignored, delayed, deflected and no clear answer provided on whether any application has even commenced.
Despite attempts to follow up by phone and email, we have received no clear response and no indication of public support from Council for pursuing this grant.
Every councillor should now state clearly where they stand.
Do they support Council applying for available grant funding for Shepparton Airport, or do they support allowing this opportunity to expire through delay and inaction?
Ratepayers, airport users, emergency service operators and the wider community deserve a clear answer.
The public deserves to know: is Greater Shepparton City Council applying for Regional Airports Program Round 5 funding for Shepparton Airport, yes or no?
If not, who made that decision, and why was this opportunity allowed to run out of time?
Regards,
Peter Blake
Shepparton Airport User Group
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