Questions are being asked why it’s taken Upper Hunter Shire Council so long to address the debt-causing Hunter Warbirds Museum at Scone Airport and Gumman Place aged care hostel at Merriwa.
Warbirds has been bleeding hundreds of thousands of dollars annually since it opened. The council has now also confirmed the hostel has left ratepayers with $2 million in debt over the past five years.
The new council has moved to stem the flow and look at alternative management arrangements.
New councillor Troy Stolz said he doesn’t know how it’s been allowed to get this bad but it is critical the hostel continues to operate in the town.