The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Fran Bailey, has announced the next phase in the disposal of the former Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base at Point Cook.

Ms Bailey said a second information day will be held at Point Cook on Saturday 17th August 2002 to display details of the Draft Strategic Land Use Plan for information and comment.

"The Department of Defence is committed to a transparent consultation process and I encourage local residents to become involved in the consultation program".

"Point Cook is a complex site that requires investigation into a great many issues. As we better understand those issues we will provide that information to the Steering Committee, the working groups and the general public through information days, newsletters and the website," Ms Bailey said.

The information day will be advertised in local newspapers and other appropriate information outlets closer to the day as a reminder for the community.

The Strategic Land Use Plan is being developed in close consultation with relevant Local, State and Federal government agencies as well as local community interest groups. The Strategic Land Use Plan is to consider potential future land use concepts, within the constraints of an operating regional airfield.

The Project Steering Committee, chaired by the Hon Mr Don Hayward, met on 31 July 2002 to consider the Draft Strategic Land Use Plan for Point Cook.

The Committee has provided in-principle support to the vision for the development of Point Cook to: preserve the heritage of RAAF Base Point Cook; keep Point Cook as an operating airfield; keep the RAAF Museum at Point Cook; and encourage the development of Point Cook as a focal point for aviation heritage, aviation preservation, education and tourism.

As part of the continuing community consultation program, three working groups (representing existing users, the community and commercial interests) will meet this week to assist in further refining the concepts presented in the Strategic Land Use Plan. The outcome of this round of discussions will be the development of a workbook that summarises the key issues and that the working groups can discuss at the September meeting.

"Allegations made by Ms Julia Gillard, Member for Lalor concerning a lack of community consultation are obviously baseless as the process described proves," Ms Bailey said.

"Local residents should be aware that Ms Gillard has never at any stage raised objections to the airfield remaining an operating airfield. Instead of criticising the consultation process Ms Gillard would be better served paying tribute to the work done by her local constituents," Ms Bailey said.

The contact for community consultation is Ms Bridget Cramphorn from Sinclair Knight Merz who may be contacted on (03) 9248 3392.

Media Contact:

Leanne Fry (03) 5962 1255

Website http://commcons.skm.com.au/raafpointcook/