Griffith Business Chamber proposals were criticised in a tense Griffith City Council meeting on Tuesday, though both the council and the chamber have since expressed more conciliatory tones.
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Cr. Paul Snaidero, who is also business chamber vice president, clashed with Mayor John Dal Broi over chamber proposals to explore an air freight export hub in the MIA and install security at Griffith Airport.
Cr. Dal Broi was asked if he would accompany the chamber on a delegation to Toowoomba to explore partnership opportunities with developer John Wagner, who built a private airport which flies fresh farm produce into Asia at high prices.
Cr. Dal Broi said he had not been invited, an assertion Cr.Snaidero challenged.
Pat Pittavino, also a chamber vice-president, said today “I have extended an invitation to the mayor both personally and through the media. The chamber is going at our own expense and would love councillors to join us.”
Cr Dal Broi said today that the chamber “have not involved council nor has there been any formal approach to council with information with which to assess any such proposal and therefore it would be premature to commit council’s funds on expensive delegations involving the mayor or councillors without some firm basis for doing so”.
Mr Pittavino said the delegation to Toowoomba was planned for August, and a proposal would be provided to council before then.
He also said the mayor was a good friend and regretted “misunderstandings” that have caused tension between the chamber and council.
“We’re not out to create war, we are volunteers raising opportunities for economic development that nobody else is raising,” he said
Mayor John Dal Broi noted that Mr Wagner has not indicated he would visit Griffith, however the said he would like Mr Wagner to accept an invitation to inspect the current airport facility in Griffith and be part of a forum conducted with local business people who would have an interest in air freight out of the region.
The mayor and Cr. Snaidero also had tense words over chamber’s push for installing security at Griffith airport. Cr. Dal Broi said capital costs would be $1 million, with considerable ongoing costs. He also said the proposal is not supported by any carriers. Cr. Snaidero raised the need for safety and said there was strong public support.
Some 80 per cent of respondents to a poll by The Area News supported the proposal, though local aviation expert Rob Robilliard has said he did not see a business case to install security in Griffith airport.