In council’s February meeting, $75,000 was allocated to the 2020/21 budget to undertake a feasibility study into the development of an airport at Moama.
Cr Weyrich said he had never been in favour of the airport and did not think it was viable.
‘‘Why would the Federal Government or anyone else give us $40 million for an airport when there’s one 40 minutes up the road?’’ he said.
‘‘With the COVID-19 situation it’s going to take many years to recover. I think we’d be better off putting this $75,000 into trying to retire some of our debt, given that we’re $1 million in the hole.’’
Cr Weyrich said general manager Des Bilske — who is currently on leave — had indicated they would target ‘‘the Chinese market’’.
‘‘The Federal Government is actively intervening in contracts and arrangements with people from overseas, and I note with interest that Deniliquin have recently had some sort of a dispute with the Federal Government about a contract for Ausway teaching up there,’’ he said.
‘‘I just don’t think it’s the right time.’’
The Chinese government-backed Ausway project Cr Weyrich refers to was the subject of a report in the Sydney Morning Herald on August 30, in which it was inferred the council’s memorandum of understanding with the Chinese government may open the door for the Chinese Communist Party to build influence through local councils and bypass the Federal Government.
Cr Campbell said she also thought spending $75,000 on an airport feasibility study would be an ‘‘unnecessary spend at the moment’’.
‘‘On June 4, 2020 the Honourable Sussan Ley gave $2.5 million to the Deniliquin airport, so I’d like to see us working with our neighbouring communities,’’ she said.
Cr Geoff Wise said he was hearing a lot of negativity from some councillors; however, he agreed council should hold off for a while.
‘‘What you’re doing is retracting because of COVID-19. If you don’t lift your spirits and get over the top of this thing, this council is just going to implode in on itself,’’ he said.
Cr Ann Crowe and Cr Neil Gorey both said they would like to see the $75,000 rolled over to the 2021/22 budget.
Director of community and economic development John Harvie said the matter had been put on hold anyway due to COVID-19.
‘‘It’s highly unlikely that we would move to spend that money within this financial year,’’ he said.
Mr Harvie then asked Cr Weyrich to provide evidence of a dispute between the Federal Government and Edward River Council (which covers Deniliquin).
‘‘I know that you can’t,’’ he said.
‘‘The other point I want to make to you too, is that your mate from the Sydney Morning Herald contacted me about the matter you rang him about.
‘‘I don’t know why you’re undermining me and undermining this council.’’
Cr Weyrich called for a point of order.
‘‘I’m not here to take this crap from this man,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ve never rang anyone at the Sydney Morning Herald, and I challenge you Mr Harvie to come up with the goods.’’
Mayor Chris Bilkey stood up and said it was ‘‘very inappropriate’’.
‘‘I’ll ask council to take a two or three minutes breather. I’ll adjourn council for five minutes and we’ll come back,’’ he said.
On resuming the meeting, council voted to rescind the allocation of $75,000 in the 2020/21 budget and defer it to the 2021/22 budget.
