TYABB Aero Club wants Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to pay $100,000 for a helipad at the Stuart Rd airfield.
The club will contribute $25,000 towards the project.
Vice-president Jack Vevers said the planned helipad would be used by emergency services crews, such as the air ambulance, firefighting services, and police helicopters.
“We are fortunate that we can provide the land and facilities for these helicopters,” he said.
“It’s a good thing for the community.
“Our application is still going through, but we are hopeful we will get approval soon.”
The February edition of the Tyabb & District Ratepayers & Environment Group’s newsletter says the state government has already refused a similar application for a grant now being considered by the shire.
“So if the state has refused why should we, the residents, have to pay?” the group’s president Stefan Berson stated in the newsletter.
Meanwhile, the aero club has denied rumours it was moving to become a Mornington Peninsula base for small jet aircraft.
Mr Vevers said an application to the council to store jet fuel at the airfield may be behind the misunderstanding. He said the fuel was for refilling helicopters – not jet planes.
“There is no way we could have jets here,” he said.
“It would be physically impossible for jets to land or take off, and also our permit with the council does not allow it.”
First published in the Western Port News – 28 February 2017
