Talks Continue On RAAF East SaleCouncil continues to talk with Federal Government about $42 million expansion plans By Karen Gregory - 25th July 2002 - Back to News Wellington Council will continue talks with the Federal Government on the $42 million expansion plan for RAAF East Sale.
Following a meeting today with Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Fran Bailey, MP, Council has invited her to visit Sale as soon as possible.
Wellington Mayor Malcolm Hole, Chief Executive Officer Lyndon Webb, Gippsland Province MLC Philip Davis and a Department of Defence advisor attended the meeting with Mrs Bailey.
Mayor Hole said Mrs Bailey had acknowledged that a review of defence force bases across Australia was currently underway. She agreed that the Federal Government was updating defence needs in the light of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the subsequent war on terrorism.
"While we all acknowledge that such a review may be necessary, we made the point to Mrs Bailey that it is vitally important the Federal Government does not lose sight of the strategic significance of RAAF East Sale," he said.
"The Government must bear in mind at all times the importance of a defence force presence in this region, given the oil and gas fields of the Bass Strait and the land-based coal and power-generation industries supplying this State.
"Sale is the energy heart of Australia, with massive oil and gas resources offshore. The presence of a defence force base acts as a safeguard for these industries and it would be sensible to build on those defences at every opportunity."
The Mayor also raised with Mrs Bailey the economic and social importance of RAAF East Sale to the region.
"In particular, I pointed out that former Minister for Defence Peter Reith’s unequivocal commitment to the $42 million expansion of this base encouraged regional contractors and businesses to make decisions for their own business future based on the belief that this Government would not let them down."
Mrs Bailey said she was not in a position to make any comment while the review was under way and was unable to say when it would be completed.
"She did, however, indicate that there would be an opportunitiy for the community to have input at some stage and we will be pressing for that to be sooner, rather than later" said Mayor Hole.
"We invited her to visit Sale and talk to us and again, we would like that to happen before the review is completed.
In the meantime, Wellington Shire will continue talks with Gippsland MP Peter McGauran over the coming weekend and will lobby politicians – particularly those in Cabinet - to ensure that the voice of Wellington is heard in Canberra.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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