THE RAAF Williams Point Cook Airbase has been saved, its future assured as an open working heritage base following a Federal Government decision to keep it operational.

The base, which has a staff of 275 members of the Australian Defence Force and public servants, has had the threat of closure hanging over it for nearly 10 years.

Local action groups have protested to the government and the Member for Lalor and Deputy Labor Leader, Julia Gillard, has given many speeches in Federal Parliament arguing for its retention.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Peter Lindsay MP, announced last week that the base would be retained.

“RAAF Williams Point Cook holds an important place in the history of Australia’s military aviation,” he said.

“Not only is it the home of the RAAF, it is also the longest continuously-used Air Force base in the world.

“The significance of the heritage value of the Point Cook site is demonstrated by its recent nomination for listing on the National Heritage List - the highest level of heritage recognition in Australia.”

The RAAF Commander at Point Cook, Wing Commander Margot Forster, welcomed the decision.

“We are all very happy about the government making the decision - we can plan now for the future use of the base,” she said.

The base attracts about 10,000 visitors a year.

The government has decided to separate the defence operational and public areas of the base into discrete precincts with appropriate levels of access.

“The public precinct will accommodate authorised commercial leases that use spare capacity of the airfield, the RAAF Museum and heritage buildings, and the Point Cook Primary School and Pre-schools,” Mr Lindsay said.

The Defence Department will also continue to maintain the base as an operating airfield able to support military flying operations when required.

The airfield will continue to be used, under arrangement, by civilian flying operators, although, over time, commercial arrangements will be put in places similar to those at other airfields.

Ms Gillard said she had lived through the scare of 2001 when the site was considered for sale and the 2004 announcement that the site would remain in public hands.

Then there was the establishment and subsequent disbanding of the Point Cook Action Group and the Point Cook Trust.

“This decision is exactly what I have been calling for since 1998 and the local community will join me in finally feeling certain about its future.”

Ms Gillard emphasised that the base had an important place in the history of Australia.

Its achievements include:

* The first flight from Point Cook took place more than 100 years ago, in 1903.

* In 1913, the Central Flying School of Australia was established and has been in continuous operation since that time.

* Point Cook can claim to be the longest continuing airfield in the world.

* Point Cook is the birthplace of the Australian Flying Corps and the Royal Australian Air Force.

“I am pleased, given the significance of the site, the government has agreed that RAAF Williams at Point Cook will be maintained by Defence as an operating airfield able to support military flying operations when required,” Ms Gillard said.

“The RAAF Museum will be retained, the civilian users will continue on the site and the historical site and its buildings will be recognised.

“This is a great achievement for the many interested aviation groups and Point Cook users who have kept the pressure on the government to come up with a sensible solution and they should be proud of their efforts.”