Shellharbour City Council and users of the Illawarra Regional Airport are flying high following a $16 million state government cash splash on facility upgrades and a new, permanent passenger terminal.
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There were no boxing gloves, just smiles all round, as the Shellharbour mayor, Labor’s Marianne Saliba, and her political foe, Liberal Gareth Ward, stood shoulder-to-shoulder to reveal the significant funding injection at the airport on Friday.
The money – set aside for a package of airport improvements – will immediately be made available from a section of the government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF).
Shellharbour council wasn’t eligible for the RGF initially, but was included in May last year.
Wollongong City Council can’t access the majority of RGF funding streams.
Mr Ward, the Illawarra’s parliamentary secretary, said Friday’s announcement meant the fight to have Shellharbour included had been “worth it”.
“I want people to be able to access this region, I want more people coming to this region and it’s investments in strategic assets like this that make it possible,” he said.
The $15.97 million will be spent on a number of projects including: $7.8 million for the new passenger terminal, $2.6 million for taxiway and apron works, and $0.5 million for security fencing.
A further $5.1 million will be spent on the development of an aviation business park.
Mr Ward stressed the announcement was “not an election commitment” and the money would be given to the council this year.
Additional runway works will be funded by the council.
The Mercury first revealed the designs for the upgraded terminal in November.
Under the plans, which went on public exhibition last year, the new terminal would be constructed over two stages and eventually feature a secure departures lounge, baggage carousels, a cafe and retail shops. Parking would also be upgraded.
The new facility would be built large enough to allow for future growth – including two aprons (aircraft parking spots) for passenger planes.
While the council was open to negotiations with airlines about extra passenger services, Cr Saliba said commercial flights were just one part of the airport’s operations.
The council’s overall plan centres around economic development and jobs growth, with 13 serviced aircraft hangars to be included in the business park.
“We’ve been working for many years to build this airport up and, as you can see, we have made a significant difference around the airport,” Cr Saliba said.
“We’ve got a lot of businesses that are operating here. We want to support them and we want to support new businesses coming to our airport.”
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
