Volunteers attend Christmas lunch

Volunteers from more than 11 Peninsula organisations attended a Volunteer Christmas Lunch organised by the Rotary Club of Umina Beach at the Ettalong Bowling Club on Thursday, November 30.

Groups represented included The Bays Rural Fire Service, Meals on Wheels, Umina Beach Men's Shed, the Umina Beach branch of the Country Women's Association, Woy Woy Community Garden, Riding for Disabled, Global Kid's Clothing, Hospital Art, Marine Rescue Central Coast, Rotary Umina Beach and Rotary Brisbane Water, as well as Peninsula News.

"This was an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful Peninsula volunteers who are a vital connection to our community and make it a better place," said Umina Rotary club president Mr Wayne Dowdle.

"They have a positive impact on our community by helping with the smallest tasks that can make a real difference to the lives of people, animals, and organizations in need."

SOURCE:

Media release, 9 Nov 2023

Wayne Dowdle, Rotary Umina Beach

Flight path proposed to pass over Woy Woy

A departure flight path from Western Sydney International Airport is expected to pass over Woy Woy according to a "draft environmental impact statement for the preliminary flight paths".

Aircraft are expected to be at more than 20,000 feet by the time they are over the Peninsula.

The flight path is expected to be used by Dash-8 turboprop aircraft once or twice a day and not by jet aircraft.

A "community information session" was held last Thursday, December 7, at The Bays Community Hall, organised with little notice by Air Services Australia.

"Aircraft departing from Western Sydney International will be climbing between 20,000 feet (6096 metres) and their en-route flight level at this location," according to information on the Australian Government website https://www.wsiflightpaths.gov.au/.

"Some aircraft may fly at a lower altitude depending on weather and operational conditions.

"An average of one, up to a maximum of two departures, could overfly this location during the day-evening period when this flight path and operating mode are in use."

The draft environmental impact statement on the preliminary flight paths is on exhibition for public comment until January 31.

It "examines the noise, social and environmental impacts of the proposed flight paths".

An Air Services Australia representative told The Bays Community Group it had not contacted Peninsula News to publicise the meeting because "they are not allowed to do so".

"Media engagement is supposed to be done by the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts."

No media release has been received from the department.

It seemed implied that the onus was on Peninsula News to contact the department and not on the department to publicise the event locally.

SOURCE:

Media release, 30 Nov 2023

The Bays Community Group