Thanks Harry, I agree that we need security of tenure over where we conduct gliding operations.
In Melbourne we want to secure tenure over the Bacchus Marsh airfield.. I hope that we can do, that. On Mon, Aug 7, 2017 at 8:37 PM, Harry Medlicott < [email protected]> wrote: > Hi All, > > > > It was almost inevitable. Money hungry councils without a great deal of > interest in gliding, sooner or later decide that perhaps if they can get > rid of all the users then then real estate value of the property is worth > millions or just because they wish to cover the maintenance cost of their > property, that it is a good idea to squeeze as much money as they can from > those selfish, filthy rich aviators who are small in number and contribute > little to the community. > > > > I have always thought it would be good publicity as well as a genuine > contribution to society if gliding clubs organised regular charity events, > perhaps in conjunction with service clubs such as rotary or lions. Entirely > on the basis that the club(s) would make absolutely nothing from the > exercise except community goodwill and perhaps gain new members. At my > home club, Lake Keepit, the charity to support could be the Westpac Rescue > Helicopter Service which is well supported and regarded locally. Another > worthwhile idea would be to try and get glider pilot representation on the > local council. > > > > Of more importance the GFA should investigate the possibility of > purchasing land suitable for use as a gliding field about no more than an > hours driving distance from, for a start, Sydney and Melbourne. I can > imagine the shock, horror of the powers that be at this suggestion. Not the > GFAs business, we are merely an umbrella organisation to supervise the > efforts of gliding clubs. Am afraid that the future of gliding, certainly > in NSW and Victoria depends on having a secure future from which to conduct > operations. Not affordable? Not sure about that. We spend considerable > amounts on other aspects of gliding which might have to be curtailed while > funds were expended on funding sites. Once the land was secure am sure > clubs would migrate their operations to such a site over a period of time. > > > > There may be other ways to achieve this. It may be that a council would > give a very long term lease or security of occupation at a predetermined > cost. > > > > The long term future of gliding depends on having security of tenure over > where we conduct operations. The GFA should take the initiative in > achieving this. It is probably beyond the resources of an individual club. > > > > Harry Medlicott > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring > >
_______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] http://lists.base64.com.au/listinfo/aus-soaring
