Sell with Confidence
Read More
News

THE Whitsunday Coast Airport expansion proposal community co

By Mark Beale

THE Whitsunday Coast Airport expansion proposal community consultations got off to a slow start on Monday night, with only seven residents attending the meeting at Proserpine Entertainment Centre.

Facilitated by independent firm JTA Australia, the consultation did see some issues raised by concerned residents about the council’s Whitsunday Coast Airport Master Plan and Feasibility Study.

Former deputy mayor Rogin Taylor asked why the council had already sought expressions of interest from the industry, appointed chief executive officer Scott Waters to a full-time position on the project and appointed an interim CEO in his place – before holding community consultations.

“It seems the decision has already been made to a greater extent,” Mr Taylor said.

But Mr Waters assured those assembled such measures were necessary to “sound the market”.

“Council hasn’t made any decisions, but to deliver an expression of interest process of this size there needs to be some dedicated resources put forward,” he said.

Mr Taylor also asked how the upgrades would be funded, with the feasibility study projecting more than $59 million would be needed in the first five years.

“And do you really think it’s fair at this stage of council, where in 90 days it goes into caretaker mode, to be leaving the next council with the commitment of a $105m development for the international airport?” he asked.

Mr Waters said at this stage no solid commitments had been made.

“At no stage has council committed, at all, any funding in relation to the future airport,” he said.

“What we have is a master plan which gives us a number of scenarios of what we could deliver from a capital perspective.

“Council is not about ‘build it and they will come’,” Mr Waters explained.

The next community consultation will be held at the Reef Gateway Hotel, Cannonvale, on Wednesday, September 23, from 7-9pm.

Up to Date

Latest News

  • Whitsunday Coast Airport Takes Off to a New Record: 522,000 and Climbing!

    Whitsunday Coast Airport has officially set a new annual passenger record, welcoming over 522,000 passengers over the past 12 months and surpassing its previous record of 507,000 set last year. This milestone cements Whitsunday Coast Airport’s status as one of Australia’s fastest-growing regional airports and highlights the strong appeal of … Read more

    Read Full Post

  • International spending is up in the Whitsundays

    Via The Courier Mail From Hollywood celebrities to European holidaymakers, this North Queensland hot spot is proving irresistible to international visitors spending more than $243m this year. Visitors are splashing the cash in the Whitsundays, with the latest data showing international tourism is on the rise. The 178,000 international visitors … Read more

    Read Full Post