GLEN Innes Severn Council is considering granting an extension of the date to commence construction of the Australia Asia Flight Training School.
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The flight school missed a deadline of the 15th of April for the commencement of construction and according to a Glen Innes Severn Council Director; the council will be considering their options.
Director of Development, Regulatory and Sustainability Services Graham Price has confirmed the council has three options available to them.
“The council has three months on which to act on the missed deadline,” he said.
“Council can choose to extend the deadline for construction, which we have done before.
“They can wave the deed option, which basically gives the council the right to purchase back the land from the Glen Innes Regional Airport, or council can reclaim the land.”
Mr Price added that the development will have a significant positive effect for the local community especially with employment.
“The project is estimated to create 150 new full time jobs with a heavy emphasis on semi-skilled and unskilled occupations,” he said.
The Director of Australia Asia Flight Training Neil Hansford said fulfilling what the school promised is taking longer than the original agreement.
“Currently our funders are doing their due diligence and we expect in the coming weeks to be given their terms of offer,” he said.
“If all is acceptable we expect their terms to be agreed to. We don’t want any burdens of debt servicing that prejudices the project.
“We are trying to make sure everything is secure before we proceed as we are being doubly careful that we start what we finish.”
Mr Hansford went on to explain that they have spent five million dollars on the project so far and he is confident that the project will go ahead.
“We want to make sure we deliver on all the jobs we promised and we have been working for nine years to make this happen,” he said.
“There is a misconception that this delay is costing the council and therefore the ratepayer’s money.”
“We are paying all the maintenance on the airport and have since 2012, we have paid all the council costs, we pay full rates, the council and the town is not out of pocket at all.
University of Newcastle Aviation expert Martin Babakham said he believed the delay in starting construction could work out to be beneficial for all concerned.
“There is a pilot training shortage to what’s required worldwide so if anything the delay has worked in everyone’s favour,” he said.
“The certainty of delivery of the jobs is safe because the demand for pilots is greater, so I am sure this project will succeed.
“Most flight school graduates are being snapped up by overseas airlines because our standards are higher.”