PICS / VIDEOS — South Eastern Model Aircraft Club

28/9 Briefing a contractor on the road from MulchXpress down to the entry gate

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28/9

28/9 Concrete to be removed to allow truck access

28/9 Looking toward the entrance to the new field from MulchXpress

Robert Breese of Civilmech assesses the work

28/9 Looking from the track back to MulchXpress

Concrete to be removed to allow truck access

28/9 Another shot looking toward the entrance to the new field from MulchXpress

Another view looking back from the entrance to MulchXpress

28/9 Swampy area that we must deal with to put in a track to the runways

10/10 Removing the safety fencing for use at the new field - Thanks Brendon

10/10 Brendon’s posts pulling technique

19/10 All the posts are now out of the ground

19/10 Looking north

19/10 Salvaged wire for recycling

SIMON’s SERMON - OCt 2020

Hi Everyone,

We have been a little quiet recently but that does not mean we have been taking it easy. Personally I have been busy trying to find a job and studying online. Along with our committee we are all working on staying COVID safe, staying sane (a losing battle as we were already coming from behind before COVID!!) and working on our new field. Things are progressing with the new field and I will endeavour to provide a fortnightly update as we move forward both by email and on our members section of the SEMAC website.

Firstly, the SEMAC committee successfully invited David Wheeler to join the committee to fill a committee vacancy. We would like to welcome David and thank him for the work he has already been done towards the SEMAC field move.

Now the field - the committee has been working hard preparing and planning the move of our field and setting the club up for at least the next 15 years. David has contacted over a dozen potential contractors to identify those prepared to quote on the work required. David, Geoff and I have met with four contractors and have shown them the field and discussed our requirements and their suggestions for the clearing of gorse, 700m access track, car parking, service area and location for the containers, grading of runways and pits area, etc.

The first two have provided quotes that are greatly outside our available budget. The most recent contractor that we met with on the 9th Friday should be providing a quote in a few days. We have also spoken with the VMAA about a possible interest free loan to assist with expenses. While we are waiting for our fourth quote, we have been working with the third contractor to modify our requirements to bring the costs closer to our available budget. We are hoping to be able to make an announcement in the very near future regarding the awarding of the contract.

It is anticipated the successful contractor will commence work in early November when the field will be capable of supporting trucks and heavy machinery. We will provide an update on what the field will look like and when we hope to be able to access the field once we have more details. I hope to be able to prepare regular videos so that you can see the new field progress.

Brendan has been maintaining the field under a Permitted Worker Permit hoping we could return to the field but since we had to close the field he has refocused his work into preparing for our move. The photos above will give you a little idea of what he has been up to and how he is saving money for the club by enabling us to reuse the fencing at the new field. In the coming weeks we will be looking at dismantling the veranda that was attached to the ATCO so that the materials can be used on the new field.

Len has been speaking with Frank, our landlord at Jakupi, to negotiate a workable extension to our lease or a mutually agreeable exit from the old field. Unfortunately, we were unable to agree to an arrangement that would allow us to continue at the present field. The lease on the old SEMAC field has been terminated and we will not be entering into an agreement to fly at the old field. Len is working amicably with Frank to enable us to keep our equipment and gear at the field until the COVID restrictions are eased and we can relocate our property. At this time we will be calling for your assistance in a working bee to prepare for our move to the new field.

We hope that you are all staying safe and as sane as possible for grounded pilots. We will have another update in a couple of weeks or sooner if we have any major news.

Regards,

Simon Bole-Brown

SEMAC President