Seven residents oppose airfield

Seven residents have opposed plans to expand the Drouin South airfield because of concerns about increased air traffic and noise.

But, the applicant has committed to working through concerns with neighbouring residents to alleviate their concerns.

Baw Baw Shire Council has received a planning permit application from the Drouin Aviation Group seeking to build four more hangars on the Yuulong Rd property to house more aeroplanes.

On behalf of the group, the application, submitted by the property owner Terry Williamson, said they were seeking to formalise two portable buildings on the property that would be re-sited and the construction of four more hangars.

The application states the property is used as an airfield seven days a week and for cattle grazing.

Mr Williamson said there were currently about 12 aircraft on the site and the extra hangars would allow about 20. He said the aviation group was made up of about 30 members.

The four new hangars are proposed to be 12 metres by 12 metres each in size, with domed roofs.

While the airfield operates seven days a week, Mr Williamson said on some days there could be three or four plane movements and other days there were none.

He said they did not envisage any great increase in air traffic.

“They are just hobbyists, it’s not for commercial use. We have never looked at it as anything more than a small regional airfield…it’s the only one in the shire.

Mr Williamson acknowledged that most of the objections were noise related.

“We will try and alleviate the concerns. We might be able to have some conditions in place to restrict the times of operation.

“If we can limit the noisy, bigger planes with more powerful motors it will help. We are happy to talk to them about their concerns and answer any questions,” Mr Williamson said.

Submissions on the application closed earlier this month. The proposal was advertised on site and letters sent to adjoining residents.

Baw Baw Shire received seven objections. Council will consider the matter next year when planners present a report to council.

Drouin South resident Trent Guy said he was disappointed the proposal was not advertised more widely so that more residents were aware of the application.

He said he had concerns about noise and the expansion eventually leading to a commercial operation.

Mr Guy, who lives in Conway Rd, said their amenity was already adversely impacted by noise from a large number of aircraft who routinely fly low over their property.

“We object to any additional development at the airfield that will allow for an increase in the current level of aircraft usage.

“The airfield appears to be operating under the ‘existing use rights’ established nearly 40 years ago when the site was used intermittently by aircraft carrying visitors to the Lardner Park field days.

“These use rights do not allow for an incremental expansion of the airfield in an unplanned manner without consideration of the impact on surrounding properties and amenity of nearby residents.

Mr Guy said they were concerned permanent storage of additional aircraft would inevitably lead to an increase in aircraft traffic and noise impacts on the surrounding are.