News
10 May, 2025
Club’s wings clippedClub’s wings clipped
MORETON Bay Council is evicting a long-standing model plane flying club next month, refusing to renew its lease at Sid Bray Field despite members maintaining the grounds and installing their own clubhouse.
The Sports Aeromodellers Association Moreton Bay Region (SAAMBR) has been utilising the Sid Bray Field in Griffin since the 1990s, with members even installing their own clubhouse after Council demolished the previous one.
SAAMBR was notified a few years ago their lease would be cancelled, however, after a passionate protest from members, Council gave them an extension until June 2025.
SAAMBR member Warner Summerton said Council has told them mixed messages on why the association was being evicted.
According to Mr Summerton, they were originally told Council intended to make the space "a big sporting area". However, the Queensland Government refused the development proposal two years ago due to the area being designated as a koala habitat.
"What Council told us now is they want this area for a children's playground," Mr Summerton said.
"It's totally unsuitable for that because everything’s underwater for half the year.
"Also there’s snakes and all sorts of stuff down here, it couldn’t be a good place for kids and it’s too out of the way. No one will come here."
Mr Summerton said it was a very emotional time for their hundreds of members, who reap a range of benefits from model plane flying.
“The thing about most of us here, we are ex-servicemen and a lot of us are in our later years of life, and it’s a good meeting place for us,” he said.
“It’s upsetting a lot of people, a lot of the members are getting into their 80s and it will probably lead to their demise.
"It’s really annoying we are going to lose it, because we fly here three times a week, we get together, have a cup of coffee, it’s also an outlet for people and their mental health.”
Despite the association having access to the Jim Gibson Field in Burpengary too, Mr Summerton said it is not suitable to do flying with the smaller model planes.
The Jim Gibson Field caters flight operations up to 1000 ft, subject to area approval, whereas the Sid Bray Field is more suited for flight operations up to 400 ft.
Mr Summerton said he has been with the association for 25 years, and noted many members have been there for even longer.
He added SAAMBR members have never had any issues with breaching their lease or not taking care of the field properly with council.
“I just can’t understand why they want us out because there’s a playground here now, but it’s for older people and their planes,” Mr Summerton said.
Moreton Bay Council was contacted for comment, however The Sentinel did not receive a response before print deadline.
