Opinion on IAA Mildura

[Rod Con]

You are not wrong, but the flying school would be the main beneficiary of the ILS. It enhanced their sales presentation to their potential Chinese Airline customers and would save them money having it at their home base OCTA.


Other beneficiaries would be training organisations in Ballarat, Bendigo, Melbourne, Adelaide and others places that would flock to Mildura, creating airspace congestion and hazards for all GA & RPT flights.

The Federal Government money was promised at election time by the Nationals desperate to hold onto a safe seat after Sugar Daddy & Old Daddy’s controversial behaviour. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said “It happened because Anne Webster, The Nationals' Candidate did not let up. It happened because she continually rang me and rang me and rang me and phoned me and said, "For goodness' sake, we need this. We need this not just for our region, we need it for our future. We need it for the young pilots who need to be able to train here. We need it so that pilot training schools can relocate to Mildura."

$2 million from the Feds, $1 million from the council owned Airport & the other $1 Million from the council. Everyone is happy, Anne gets her seat in the House of Representatives, Nationals Keep the Mallee and IAA can close the deal with the Chinese Airlines.

But are they, local GA community don’t want it, Airlines don’t want it local residents don’t want it. The economic benefit is highly debateable the flying school shareholders are probably the Chinese owner or Chinese companies. How much money ends up in the local economy. How much will Mildura Tourism suffer because of this foreign owned entity.

The only hurdle left was to get the last $1 million from the council, when you have lots of money even it is allegedly embezzled that is easy, you just buy a Mayor. So, the MRCC Mayor Simon Clemence became the CEO of a flight school.

Anne Webster had previously announced the Fed money stating that the CAT I ILS would allow aircraft to land in fog, so it must be true because at the council meeting the Councillors that spoke for the ILS said this is about safety Aircraft will be able to land in Fog.

Deal done a couple of farmers think it is a good idea, no research or consultation let’s spend $1 Million of taxpayer's money.