We the undersigned request the Ombudsman to review the proposed capital expenditure of the Upper Hunter Shire Council on the Scone airport redevelopment.

We do not believe the NSW Office of Local Government exercised due diligence in reviewing and approving Council’s project, for what is the largest capital expenditure ever undertaken in the Shire.

We believe the business plan is fundamentally flawed and we want an independent review by an accounting firm with a specialisation in aviation, to analyse the assumptions made in Council’s current plan before the project is allowed to continue.

The cost to ratepayers, if Council’s highly optimistic projects are not realised, would be significant both in the short term and create ongoing financial strain for the Shire.