Monash's view of some years standing that there is a significant opportunity for Australia in UAV development, particularly for SMEs and their sub contractors, has been re-affirmed by the Federal Governments initial industry survey under the Aerospace Industry Action Agenda.

While the VRRF proposal has had strong interest generally from elected representatives, including Local Government, it has not attracted the support of some of their key advisers when considering the current funding parameters. There is now no possibility of State funding for the VRRF. Other funding opportunities are still being explored but these may take several months, or more, to evaluate should Monash choose to pursue them.

We do however intend to continue our research activities with both aerial and marine operations in the Port Welshpool area. These operations will necessarily be at a significantly lower level than was originally planned with modest if any employment opportunities.

Monash Engineering has been invited to fly missions from a number of properties in the Port Welshpool area. We are grateful for this support. These activities are reported along with other activities at:

Monash Engineering Field Research Activities

Monash remains of the view that the UAV industry, which was to be the seed of the Port Welshpool facility, provides significant opportunities for Australia. This includes the economic gains that may be made through the applications of land, sea and air UAV technologies in science and engineering.

The State Government asked Monash University to refrain from any public discussion until its bids under the Regional Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and Strategic Technology Innovation Round 2 (STI2) had been considered. These applications followed an unsuccessful application to the Strategic Technology Innovation Round 1 in 2000.

Monash is now able to advise that, regretfully, after three years of negotiation and grant applications to the State Government, it has been unsuccessful in obtaining the essential infrastructure funding required to proceed on the original scale envisaged.

We understand that funding priorities established by the Government and the South Gippsland Shire Council have in the case of RIDF favoured more traditional rural industries.

Monash is continuing to explore more modest funding options to commence operations on the site at a significantly reduced level whereby elements of the specialist aerosopace industry, with operations in Australia, may make use of the Port Welshpool site for UAV trials. This may include Aerosonde although they are now exploring a range of company strategies.

Monash remains of the view that the UAV industry, which was to be the seed of the Port Welshpool facility, provides significant opportunities for Australia. This includes the economic gains that may be made through the applications of land, sea and air UAV technologies in science and engineering.

Monash has negotiated a further and final extension to the completion date for the purchase of the site to mid March 2002.

We thank the South Gippsland communities for your support and interest.