DEBATES about the flying school at Mildura Airport need to be split into three separate discussions, Mildura Council candidate Racheal Fyfe says.
Conflict-of-interest claims, conjecture about the school’s presence in Mildura and noise complaints were different issues that required different responses, she argues.
Ms Fyfe said the “elephant in the room” was Mildura Mayor Simon Clemence’s position as chief executive of the International Aviation Alliance’s Mildura operations.
“To me that’s a very clear conflict,” she said.
Cr Clemence, who took the flying school job in February, has indicated he would not recontest this year’s election, scheduled for October, and had not been present during council discussions involving the school.
On the school being in Mildura, Ms Fyfe said the airport was right to consider diversifying its revenue streams by welcoming the school.
She said the installation of an instrument landing system would benefit both the flying school and general safety at the airport.
The leadership and management teacher said the region should be supportive of the expansion of industries and appreciate the economic activity generated by the school.
“You also need to consider the revenue from the family and friends that come to visit the pilots of the school — that’s a huge income into our region,” she said.
“And the pilots are getting out, they’re socialising, they go out to entertainment, they get their hair cut, they are actually part of our community.”
Ms Fyfe said concerns about noise were being heard “loud and clear” and steps to mitigate these issues should be reviewed.
“Through my consultations and getting my head around all this, what I’ve discovered is when a pilot trains, they are all trained to take off and turn left,” she said.
“But in Mildura, they have to go right through the South Mildura residential area, because the gliding field is on the other side.
“So my pitch is, why aren’t we looking at that space (and) relocating the gliding field, and then the noise would be over other land that isn’t housing?”
