Hood Aerodrome

Meeting started at 1901 hours

PRESENT
Kerry Conner, Gene de Marco, Tony van Dyk, Bill Dittmer, Ross St George, Stewart Barton, Robert Thurston, Bob Wilton, Colin Coutts, Trevor McKeown, Tom Williams, David Holmes, Garry Daniel, Jeff Sayer, Pauline Leech, Russell Shultz,  David Bull, Peter Browne, Keith Turner, , John Shakes

APOLOGIES
Phil Patterson, Alan Flynn, Simon Ford, Craig Stobbs, Tony Flewett, Bruce Frethy, Tony Passmore
Apologies accepted Tony Van Dyk, Robert Thurston

MINUTES FROM 16th February 2008
Read by Kerry Conner, and moved to be accepted as a true and correct record.
Seconded Gene De Marco, Bill Dittmer

ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Chairman                          Phil Patterson   (Robert Thurston, Bill Dittmer)
Secretary                           Kerry Conner   (Bill Dittmer, Gene de Marco)
Representatives                Alan Flynn   (Kerry Conner, Robert Thurston)
                                         Tony van Dyk   (Russell Shultz, Stewart Barton)
                                         Trevor McKeown   (Bill Dittmer, David Bull)
                                         Bill Dittmer   (John Shakes, Trevor McKeown)
                                         Gene de Marco    (Tony van Dyk, Robert Thurston)
                                         Tom Williams   (Tony van Dyk, Stewart Barton)
                                         Hughan McKay   (Tony van Dyk, Robert Thurston)
                                         Robert Thurston   (Gene de Marco, Kerry Conner)

GENERAL BUSINESS
• HUG name
 Tony van Dyk  moved a motion to accept The Hood Users Group name, seconded Gene de Marco

• Website
 The Hood Aerodrome website has now been viewed by over 1,700 unique viewers, with over 15,000 individual page views from all  over the World since starting midway through October last year (not bad for our first 5 months).  I would appreciate if you could  pass my thanks on to all those who have helped with the supply of photos and stories, and general guidance on what should be  on our website, along with those folk who use it on a regular or semi regular basis.  Any more ideas/stories/photos etc. would be  warmly welcomed.  Also, a special thanks to Gene de Marco for the funding of the web domain names, and Trust House and  Technology Solutions for their support in hosting our website at no cost to the group.

• Emergency Plan
 The council has written a hood aerodrome emergency plan, which covered mainly airline operations.  HUG representatives are still  to make submissions regarding the everyday use operators on the aerodrome.
 Ross St George asked if the emergency plan has been exercised at all. At this stage it is a work in progress.

• Membership Fee / funding
 Tom Williams suggested this be dealt with at a representative monthly meeting

• Aims and objects / Constitution / Promotion of Aerodrome
 Bob Wilton thanked Alan Flynn for inviting Motorplex to put information onto the website.
 Nothing was resolved as to the direction HUG should take, as far as to say – keep the promotion going.
• WOW airshow Feedback
o Gene wanted it noted there was a lack of crowd control leading up to the airshow
o Trevor asked if the watering of the gravel road could be watered in the week prior to the show
o Kerry requested a fencing plan prior to erection of fences
o Ross St George said feedback from around the traps was that airshow was a success

 Tom said the airshow was a financial success, but did not have definite figures, but the profit should be in the 6 figures. Bob asked  if – without – sponsorship, would it have been a success? Tom suggested – no, not without the sponsorship and grant money.

• Council/HUG Interaction
 Tom Williams asked if Garry Daniel wished to speak.

 Garry Daniel:-
o Mentioned receiving Kerry’s letter a month ago, but has been waiting for a reply from Wes for some of the issue’s. Regrets not  being able to answer some of the questions raised.
o Regretted not being at last years meeting, as wasn’t invited, and only found out about  today’s meeting at last minute, and asked  if communication could be improved.
o Mentioned the past few months the council has been dedicated to getting the airline up and running. The airline is operating very  well, with loadings above expectation and some people are not being able to book seats as they are fully booked.
o The council are keen for the development plan to progress

 Robert Thurston asked Garry about the naming of the new terminal building.
 Council is looking into it.

 Bill Dittmer, asked about the services along South Road and where in the budget the services are placed.
 Garry – If it has to be in the budget, there will never be services along South Road. Now the services are along Manaia Road, there  is talk of a circular water system.
 Bill – Leaseholders were sent a letter from council to earthquake proof their buildings and asked the Mayor, as to why this was  and do they need to do this?
 Garry – Could not answer this question and is looking into it. The request for earthquake strengthening is only following up the law,  which Rodney Hide is following up on – eliminating some of the bureaucratic nonsense.

 Tom – Commented that user’s are frustrated with having no services, when council has told the user’s the money has been put  aside and then spent on Manaia Road. Tom suggested a council rep come to a HUG meeting and discuss with users the list of  priorities the council has for development.

 Garry – Suggested this was a good point. Mentioned the economic status at present is a juggling act with expenses. The matter  at the moment if the resolving of the noise contours and until this is resolved; the council cannot look at any other issues. The  council sees the development of the Griffiths block in a Pauanui style development as the best way to go, but the noise contours  have to be resolved.

 David Holmes – Wants to see the HUG/Council meetings kept up with meetings on a monthly meeting. The council want to see  the aerodrome go ahead as a recreational aerodrome. David Hopman is approachable and can get things done.

 Garry suggested a meeting every second month.
 Bill would like to see the recreational name be kept to the forefront of the councils mind.

 Stuart – Seconds the attitude of Tony Heyward as mentioned in last years AGM, while Robert Thurston said Tony’s attitude has  changed since the departure of Kevin Montgomery. The councilor’s  also back-up Robert’s views.

• Motorplex
 Set-up Friday night 2100 hours instead of 1800 hours, due to airline operations
 Racing must be finished at 1430 hour on Sunday so that all cleaned up before the final inspections.
 5 – Year plan: – Has a plan in to the motor bike club, getting shuffled around but waiting to hear back from them on Motorplex  proposal and then this will be forwarded to council. They will then decide on what they will do and whether they want to carry on.

 Tom – Asked if by 2010, they will have their own track and be ready to move off the aerodrome, as users would not be favorable for  Motorplex to stay on the aerodrome for a further 5 years.

 Bob – Still haven’t decided whether they want to build a purpose built facility, or pull the pin, as they have another year to make a  decision. Motorplex are waiting to hear from the  motor bike people to see if they can work together with Motorplex and whether it  will be viable for Motorplex to build on the motorbike track.
 Bob said that if they needed more time on the aerodrome after 2010 they would ask council for an extension.

 Tom – Wanted it noted that the aerodrome users would definitely NOT be in favour of an extension. This was backed up by the  gliding fraternity present at the meeting.

 Bill – Made comment that we have a summer period of 12 weeks, and Motorplex are taking 4 of these weekends, which is  restricting flying activities.
 
• Tom Williams made comment that HUG are fortunate that we have a good relationship with council and thank the Mayor (Garry  Daniel) and councilor David Holmes on their attendance tonight.

• Robert Thurston asked Ross St George whether he could see why gliders could not operate while Motorplex is operating. He  mentioned the management of the hazard if a car went off the track  if a glider were in the landing phase.
 If the PIC makes a decision that could cause a hazard – they have to stand up to their decision in a court of law.

• Meeting closed   2026 hours

• Next normal meeting 20th April 2009, 1900 hours at the Aero Club