Australia Airport Information Tender

As part of its public consultation process the City of Whyalla is holding an information session on the proposed airport project. The meeting will be held at the Whyalla Public Library on Monday September 9 2019 starting at 6pm. The airport project has been made necessary in part to meet the Australian Government measures to further strengthen Australias domestic and international aviation security with advanced screening technology.Documentation for the proposed Whyalla Airport project is in the public consultation section of the Council website httpwww.whyalla.sa.gov.aupublicconsultation with hard copies available from the front counter of Councils offices on Darling Terrace. Feedback is invited until noon on Monday September 16 2019 and can be sent via email to council@whyalla.sa.gov.au or by mail to PO Box 126 Whyalla SA 5600It is proposed that Council will operate the airport as a standalone operation that meets costs through a competitive Regular Passenger Transport RPT charge that will provide enough revenue to run the airport. Council CEO Chris Cowley said the mandatory security upgrade from the Federal Government was an ideal opportunity to expand the airport even further and create a facility likely to attract even more people to Whyalla. He said it would make flying in and out of the city safer and more enjoyable for locals visitors and the increasing number of business people and FIFO workers using the facility.The modelling on the proposed upgrade is expected to have a positive net impact on Councils financial performance with key financial targets that will deliver a return to ratepayers on the capital investment outlay. An upgrade is necessary to meet the necessary Federal airport standards but with this plan it will be achieved with a positive outcome for Whyalla Mr Cowley said. Not only would we have an upgraded airport building and runway it would be a safer and more comfortable facility for all local and visitor passengers.With more and more business and tourism opportunities springing up in our city and around the region this proposal allows for significant growth in traffic for our airport which will further improve the bottom line for this facility and the city. Mr Cowley said the Whyalla airport was already on the way up with a 4 increase to 77622 in passengers using the airport in the last financial year. The modelling for the proposed airport upgrade is based on a modest 1 increase in passengers.Our predictions are that this upgrade will actually be a win for ratepayers with a return on the capital investment Mr Cowley said. Input from residents is valuable in the assessment of this proposed project for the elected members to ultimately decide how we go forward at the airport. The final decision will be made on the proposed investment after the consultation feedback is assessed along with the required prudential report.