FYI
The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence has announced the “Way Forward” for Point Cook, Australia’s most important Aviation Heritage site, declaring the intention to retain it in Defence ownership and management as an open working heritage site, with public and defence precincts and ongoing civil aviation use.
Point Cook was created in 1913, with its first flight in 1914, as the Australian Flying Corp’s Central Flying School, it is the site of many historic first flights and the departure point of many pioneering trailblazing flights including Kingsford Smith.
It is the birth place of Australian Military Aviation and the cradle of Australian Civil Aviation.
With RAAF Flying training halting in 1992, it was slated for disposal and likely sale for property redevelopment.
Subject to a community based lobbying campaign which included an 11,000 signature petition to Federal Parliament demanding its retention, it is now nominated onto Australia’s National Heritage List.
It is the home of the RAAF Museum, this decision opens the way to a “Duxford” outcome at Point Cook rather than a “Hendon” outcome.
An electronic copy is pasted below and is available at the ParlSec Website at
[http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Lindsaytpl.cfm?CurrentId=7085
regards
Mark Pilkington
RAAF WILLIAMS POINT COOK TO REMAIN IN DEFENCE OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Mr Peter Lindsay MP, announced today that Defence will retain RAAF Williams Point Cook as an open working heritage base.
Mr Lindsay said Defence’s future use of RAAF Williams Point Cook would balance the operational, heritage, and community needs of the base.
“RAAF Williams Point Cook holds an important place in the history of Australia’s military aviation. Not only is it the home of the RAAF, it is also the longest continuously used Air Force base in the world,” Mr Lindsay said.
“The significance of the heritage value of the Point Cook site is demonstrated by its recent nomination for listing on the National Heritage List – the highest level of heritage recognition in Australia.”
RAAF Williams Point Cook currently attracts over 100,000 visitors a year. It has the potential to improve general public awareness of the aviation industry in Australia and Defence’s aviation history in particular.
“I have agreed with a recommendation to separate the Defence operational and public areas of the base into discrete precincts with appropriate levels of access.
“The public precinct will accommodate authorised commercial leases that use spare capacity of the airfield, the RAAF Museum and heritage buildings, and the Point Cook Primary and Pre-schools,” Mr Lindsay said.
RAAF Williams Point Cook will continue to be maintained by Defence as an operating airfield able to support military flying operations when required, as well as by the RAAF Museum.
The airfield will continue to be used, under arrangement, by civilian flying operators, although over time, commercial arrangements will be put in place similar to those at other airfields.
“Defence is taking steps to ensure that RAAF Williams Point Cook is a safe environment in which the Australian Defence Force, licensed stakeholders and the general community can coexist, while also maintaining the estate and the environment in a manner which improves the many heritage values of the site.”
Defence will conduct a series of stakeholder briefings today and tomorrow.
Media Contacts: Niki Lyons (Mr Lindsay)
(07) 4725 2066
0418 762 307
Defence Media Liaison
(02) 6265 3343
0408 498 664
By: mark_pilkington - 24th September 2007 at 04:27
FYI
The RAAF and Defence Department held formal briefings last week with Stakeholders as a followup to the Media Release issued earlier in the week by Peter Lindsay Parliamentary Secretary for Defence.
VISION:
RAAF Base Point Cook will be an open ‘Working Heritage Base’, capable of conducting operations while preserving and displaying Air Force and Australian aviation heritage.
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It will be open to the public to promote public awareness of Australia’s aviation history.
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It will inspire Australia’s youth by providing experiential learning in many facets of military and civil aviation.
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It is proposed that Point Cook continue to be able to support military flying operations when required, particularly as a contingency to support national security requirements.
Underpinning Planning Principles
The following underpinning planning principles are agreed:
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RAAF Base Point Cook will remain in Defence ownership and management.
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The RAAF Museum will remain at RAAF Base Point Cook.
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Future use of RAAF Base Point Cook is to have full regard to Defence’s responsibilities under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the site’s nomination for placement on the National Heritage List. Appropriate, adaptive reuse of buildings of particular heritage value is the preferred management strategy.
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Point Cook is to continue to be maintained by Defence as an operating airfield. It is to be able to support military flying operations when required, as well as by the RAAF Museum. The airfield is to continue to be used, under arrangement, by civilian flying operators, but it is expected that over time commercial arrangements will be put in place similar to those at other airfields.
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The future use and management of RAAF Base Point Cook (including the location of Defence functions and activities) is to be cognisant of, and facilitate, public access and use.
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Future Defence use of the Base is to have regard to the location of the Point Cook State School and Pre-school.
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RAAF Bases Laverton and RAAF Base Point Cook are to be retained in the longer term.
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Funding will need to be sourced to undertake the necessary upgrade works to site facilities, to provide for the on-going maintenance requirements and to enable other Defence elements (predominantly Air Force) to re-locate to RAAF Base Point Cook.
Regards
Mark Pilkington
By: Malcolm McKay - 20th September 2007 at 05:05
FYI
“Defence is taking steps to ensure that RAAF Williams Point Cook is a safe environment in which the Australian Defence Force, licensed stakeholders and the general community can coexist, while also maintaining the estate and the environment in a manner which improves the many heritage values of the site.”
That’s good news but why, oh why, has every government announcement in this country got to have one of those mother hen clauses? Are we really so concerned about risk or just going through the motions so as not frighten the less mature and the kiddies. Rant off 😀 .
I am glad that Pt Cook is being saved – the thought of it being relaced by a heritage free housing estate was pretty grim.
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September 20, 2007 at 3:54 am