Shellharbour City Council hopes the recent arrival of the Qantas 747-400 will help it land $1.3 million in tourism funds to help upgrade Illawarra Regional Airport.
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Shellharbour City Council has unveiled a $2.6 million project to upgrade the airport's east-west runway to full operational capacity. The runway upgrade and associated works is estimated to cost $2.1 million, while the project also incorporates a new tourism hospitality and administration facility valued at $500,000.
The council hopes to secure $1.3 million in funds through the NSW government's Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund which has set aside $50 million for regional airport upgrades.
The Illawarra airport was not on an initial list of airports to qualify for the fund, however council officers have since identified it does qualify.
The council's matching contribution of $1.3 million includes $1.2 million insurance money from the terminal building fire of 2013, money which had previously been set aside by the council to build a replacement facility.
Shellharbour City Council general manager Michael Willis defended the proposed diversion of funds into a runway upgrade, saying the new tourism facility would be designed to cater for a possible expansion should Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) services be reinstated.
He said if tourism opportunities were to expand - and the arrival of the 747 would provide a boost - then upgrading the infrastructure at the airport needed to be the first priority.
In a report to be tabled at Shellharbour City Council's Tuesday night meeting, council staff said it was "essential that the east-west runway rectification occur" as it enables use of the airport by light aircraft during weather conditions that prevent them using the main north-south runway.
"Currently fly-in tourism visitation by light aircraft is limited due to these aircraft not being able to use the east-west runway in specific weather conditions," the report said.
aarnold@fairfaxmedia.com.au