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Council welcomes confirmed expansion of RAAF East SaleWellington Shire Council is very pleased with the Federal Government’s announcement confirming expansion of the RAAF Base at East Sale. By Wellington Shire Council - 5th August 2003 - Back to News This welcome news, announced by the Minister for Defence Senator Robert Hill and the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Fran Bailey, confirms the transfer of the Officer Training School from Point Cook to East Sale. It ends more than 12 months of uncertainty surrounding the Base’s future.
RAAF East Sale as it stands at present already brings significant economic benefit to the Shire and Gippsland, representing around $20 million a year. The transfer of the Officer Training School will further boost the Base’s benefit to the area.
Today’s news means that the Wellington and Gippsland economies can move forward with a renewed confidence, building on notable ongoing success stories such as the expansion of Sam Gould and Dahlsens in Sale, the Council’s multi-million-dollar Port of Sale and entertainment centre developments, and TAFE’s relocation plans.
Said Wellington’s Mayor John Jago: "The confirmation of expansion of the RAAF East Sale is a great outcome, and owes much to the hard work and concerted lobbying that has been going on for over a year by the Council, the local community and our State and Federal MPs.
"Particular thanks goes to Peter McGauran, along with Peter Ryan and Philip Davis, all of whom have campaigned vigorously on Wellington’s behalf. We appreciate that their task hasn’t been easy given the Defence Bases Review and the Bali bombing.
"Victorian Minister for State and Regional Development, John Brumby, assisted with funding support for our submissions to Government and gave the East Sale RAAF Base issue national media exposure.
"Another vitally important element has been the impetus given to the lobbying effort by the Wellington community itself, especially local businessmen Robin Lowe and Geoff Lindrea who accompanied the former Mayor and the Chief Executive Officer to Canberra on one of our deputations to Federal Government. There’s also Rob Prestney who has worked hard behind the scenes.
"The RAAF base East Sale is of great strategic and economic importance to Wellington, having a key role to play in ensuring the prosperity of the Shire and the region, and protecting key infrastructure.
"As a result of today’s announcement we expect to see a renewed buoyancy in the local economy that will help enhance the prosperity of Sale, Wellington and Gippsland long into the future."
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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