The Illawarra could have a new aviation business park within 12 months, after politicians marked the start of a $20 million upgrade at Shellharbour Airport.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jointly funded by the council and NSW Government early last year, the project will also result in a new passenger terminal, as well as runway and lighting upgrades to accommodate larger aircraft, new taxiways and aprons and extra parking.
The new Aviation Economic Development Park, which will be built next to the existing HARS hangar, will include roadways, stormwater, sewerage, internal water reticulation and bulk earthworks.
"The state government is absolutely thrilled to provide $16 million towards this project, which is going to see a new terminal buildings... but also business park facilities that can leverage off what we have here at Albion Park Airport," Kiama MP Gareth Ward said at a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday.
"The airport here is operating incredibly well, we've seen the operator current flying here sustain those flights to Melbourne and Brisbane, and we want more local people to go on business trips and holidays without having to fight through Sydney traffic."
He said the project would generate jobs and economic activity during construction and over the longer term.
Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said the project would ensure the council could "maximise the opportunities" at it's community owned infrastructure.
"Serviced hangars will allow businesses to operate, and with our new marina coming on, we expect there will be people who will fly their jets down here and jump on their yachts they keep at our marina," she said.
She said the business park would be developed according to demand, and hangars may be either built by the council and lease out, or built by businesses on the council's land through public-private partnerships.
Mr Ward said there were "lots of long-term, high-paying jobs" in aviation electronics, which could thrive at the Shellharbour Airport.
Cr Saliba noted the project had been funded the NSW Government's Growing Local Economies Fund after the council - working with Mr Ward - had worked to reclassify Shellharbour as a regional council area.
"After Shellharbour was let out of the mergers, we found that we were missing from the regions and thanks to Gareth and the Deparment of Premier and Cabinet down here we were able to get back on that list," she said.
Fly Corporate manager Jeff Boyd also attended the groundbreaking ceremony as said he was looking forward to the "boost" the new building would give the airport passenger service.
Fly Corporate has run flights to Melbourne and Brisbane from the airport for about 15 months, after taking over from the failed JetGo operation.