BIGGER, BETTER UPGRADE FOR WHITSUNDAY COAST AIRPORT

_{18 February, 2010}

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Treasurer Andrew Fraser today announced an additional $3 million would be allocated for the Whitsunday Coast Airport redevelopment to enable the region to roll out the welcome mat to visitors.

Mr Fraser said the extra funding was in addition to the $4 million already committed and would provide a better level of service and comfort to passengers.

“The future of the Whitsunday Coast Airport is central to the viability of tourism on the mainland and for onward travellers to the Whitsundays Islands,” said Mr Fraser.

“We made the commitment at last year’s election that we would make sure the Whitsunday region received the top-class regional airport it deserves.

“This is the gateway to hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, so it’s essential we make this a facility that travellers want to come back to.

“We recognise the strategic importance of the airport terminal — to both the tourism market and industry sector — and these terminal refurbishment works aim to make the experience in transit more secure and comfortable for passengers.
“We expect to see in the order of $7 million dollars worth of work to make the airport terminal more functional safe and more efficient, until a new one is built.”
Mr Fraser said the Government had been consulting with Whitsunday Regional Council, the terminal’s lease-holders and aircraft carriers during May 2009 to determine the priority scope of works and complete this preliminary design of the terminal.

He said the funding would be subject to the Whitsunday Regional Council seeking to appoint a private operator.  If a satisfactory private operator cannot be appointed, the Council will maintain its responsibilities for the airport.

The program of works is expected to include:

• additional floor space for the secure, ‘air-side’ area of the departure lounge
• provision of floor space for future customs and quarantine facilities to allow for the potential introduction of a limited number of international carriers into the future
• an upgraded baggage claim facility
• the reconfiguration of the cafeteria, and the arrivals, check-in and security screening areas; and
• the relocation and refurbishment of airport offices.

Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt welcomed the announcement and said she’d been lobbying for more funding.

“This is welcome news for the people of the Whitsunday – now not only will we have an airport that not only looks great, but functions really well,” Ms Jarratt said.

“First impressions are important and I believe that if we find additional funding we will see dividends over coming years.

“At the end of the day, this is about providing a level of service that will attract more people to visit the Whitsundays.”

Media contacts: Treasurer’s Office – 3224 6361 or 3224 5982

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