Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and Peninsula Aero Club at odds over Tyabb airfield operations
A storm of conflict has erupted at Tyabb airfield with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council telling businesses they don’t have permits to operate, despite some having been there for decades.
South East
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Peninsula Aero Club has flown into a storm of conflict over operations at its Tyabb airfield.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has written to landlords of businesses at the airfield stating they don’t have permits to operate, despite some having been there for decades.
PAC supporter Eric Collier wrote online that the council had directed multiple businesses to
stop work.
Furious PAC president Jack Vevers said 20 businesses and about 100 jobs were at stake.
Mr Vevers slammed what he called the council’s “fishing expedition” because its records were inadequate and he believed the businesses had permits.
“They are making accusations that don’t have any substance behind them,” he said.
“The way they have handled this is poor — there was no negotiation or discussion.
“When it comes down to families and jobs it’s nonsense to frighten people like this.”
In a one-line statement, council planning and building director David Bergen said the council was “committed to working with the Peninsula Aero Club and the community to resolve issues at the airfield and on surrounding land”.
He didn’t answer questions on whether they had sent letters or if businesses were at risk.
There has been long-running tension between the council and the PAC over issues including noise and compliance with regulations at the airfield.
Some residents have repeatedly accused the PAC of flouting guidelines on when aircraft can fly and allowing excessively noisy planes to use the airfield.
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Mr Collier said in a web post some maintenance facilities had been told to stop work, “which could impact many families and jobs”.
A business operator, who did not want to be named, said it was “a shock to be told we can’t do it any more.”
“There was no warning it was going to happen — it was out of the blue,” he said.