To the Honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives assembled in Parliament:

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives assembled in Parliament your petitioners therefore respectfully request that the House support the retention of Aeropelican at Belmont in the electorate of Shortland and:

(1)   recognise the vital importance of the Aeropelican air service which operates out of Belmont in Lake Macquarie between Belmont and Sydney and is appalled at the owner’s decision to cease operation out of Belmont;

(2)   note that there is no other commercial air service operating out of either Lake Macquarie or the Central Coast of New South Wales;

(3)   recognise that Aeropelican is a vital regional infrastructure which provides essential public transport;

(4)   note that air travel from Williamtown is not a viable option for people living in Lake Macquarie and on the Central Coast of New South Wales when they travel to Sydney, and that the closure of Aeropelican will increase the traffic on the F3 Freeway between Lake Macquarie and Sydney; and

(5)   note the transfer of Aeropelican’s air service to Williamtown will result in staff losing their jobs. (Notice given 10 March 2005.)