Tyabb Airshow Cancelled

[Dave Homewood]

This news sucks!

Tyabb Air Show canceled
12 August 2019

One of Australia's largest and most enduring air shows, Tyabb, has been canceled for 2020 as a casualty of Peninsula Aero Club's (PAC) battle with the local council.
Usually held every two years, the Tyabb Air Show was well supported by both the aviation and local communities, and raised over $1 million for charity over the years.

PAC president Jack Vevers said in an announcement today that negotiations with the Mornington Pensinsula Shire on a permit for the show had proved fruitless.

"After many weeks of trying to come to a workable solution with the council to run the 2020 Airshow we have not been able to agree on a pathway forward, Vevers said. "As such the committee has resolved to cancel the 2020 Tyabb Airshow.

"Although the Shire offered a new permit process, we ultimately found that it has proven unworkable and we are unable to run the airshow safely and effectively. While we would have been willing to continue discussions, unfortunately we have simply run out of the lead-time required to plan and stage the event."

PAC has been in a tussle with the local council over letters of direction to stop some airport operations and the enforcement of an obsolete curfew on Sunday mornings. The club had been in discussions with the council to resolve the issue, but had at no time ruled out legal action to bring the situation to a head.

"We are incredibly disappointed that shire’s letters of direction to stop the operation of the airport have caused so much disruption and blocked participation and access to the resources we need to run the event," Vevers said.

"Over the years the Peninsula Aero Club has raised more than a $1 million in donations which have been directed to local charities and volunteer organizations such as the CFA, Headspace, Riding for the Disabled, the Bays and Rosebud hospitals, Lions Club and Tyabb Footy and Cricket Clubs to name just a few.

"We are hopeful that over time we will find a solution to once again work with the shire to allow the air show to go ahead in 2022."



Read more at www.australianflying.com.au/latest/tyabb-air-show-canceled

[vultee43]

What a load of rubbish.

[colford]

Not a good outcome at this time. The comments of support on the Peninsular Aero Club FB page regarding this situation and expressed hopes that some break through might occur to allow the air show to be re-instated are almost universal. In looking through the comments, one interesting post provides a link to a planning application currently being considered by the local council to build a 180 dwelling aged retirement complex, bounded on one side by........the airfield and on the other an active rail line that carries heavy rail freight traffic including early hours of the morning. Do we now see the real cause for the sudden interest by the council about the operating arrangements for the airport? The more you dig, the more the can spews out more worms! What rational person would consider building an aged care/retirement complex next to an active airfield and active rail line - unless they are going to specifically pitch it for retired aviators and train spotters? But, it is the easy solution for the developer and the council in terms of tapping into all the already developed supporting infrastructure such as roads, power, water, sewerage as well as keeping it relatively close to Tyabb itself - the selling point of proximity for the complex residents for shopping, access to services, transport to Melbourne, etc.