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Wellington community welcomes RAAF expansion - Council tells InquiryBy Wellington Shire Council - 13th September 2005 - Back to News Wellington Shire Council has thrown its weight behind the latest concerted push to relocate the RAAF College Officer Training School from Point Cook to East Sale by lodging a major submission to the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Public Works in Canberra.
The Council’s submission was one of 11 received by the Committee in support of the relocation of the School by the closing date of September 2.
Wellington Mayor Peter Gault said: "This stage is considered extremely important in the whole process because the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee is the group that makes the recommendation to the Federal Government for the project to proceed using funding allocated in the Federal Budget.
"I am pleased to hear about the number of submissions from different sections of the community – it really is a great effort that demonstrates to the Defence Department that Sale is the perfect place for the Officer Training School. It shows the Department that the RAAF Base East Sale and its personnel are extremely welcome in our Shire and an important part of the Sale community.
"We’ve also appreciated the input provided by our RAAF Base East Sale Expansion Community Committee - their assistance and support has been extremely valuable."
Cr Gault said the bipartisan Committee would travel to Sale on Friday, 16 September, to conduct a public hearing on the proposal.
"The Council, regional institutions, authorities, private organisations and local community groups are expected to speak to their submissions during the hearing."
Cr Gault said the relocation of the Officer Training School to East Sale would provide a significant boost to the Wellington economy and its business sector, which has been gearing up for the proposed $65.6 million expansion of the base for some time.
"The base brings substantial economic benefit to Wellington Shire and Gippsland, currently representing more than $20 million a year. The transfer of the Officer Training School will further enhance the prosperity of the region long into the future.
"It will also assist the Federal Government, by building on the excellent training skills already provided by RAAF Base East Sale."
The Council’s submission outlines how the proposal could achieve cost efficiencies for the Government; dramatically improve current training facilities at the 62-year-old RAAF Base East Sale; and, provide hundreds of junior officers with an enviable lifestyle in a welcoming community.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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