BUSSELTON–MARGARET
RIVER REGIONAL AIRPORT EXPANSION
1257. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Minister for Regional Development:
I refer to the funding for the
expansion of the Busselton–Margaret River Regional Airport and the
minister's decision to suspend construction of the proposed terminal
until an agreement of substance is made with an airline to provide flights, and
to the minister's response to my question without notice 474 asked on
14 June 2018.
(1) Noting that,
in June, the minister suggested that clarity was needed by the end of July, and
thanking the minister for keeping the remaining funding on the table for an
additional four months at least, has an agreement with an airline to fly to
Busselton now been signed?
(2) If no to (1),
has the government set a time limit by which a concrete agreement with an
airline must be signed, and what is that limit?
(3) In
negotiations to date, what subsidies have been sought by any airlines to commit
to flights to Busselton, and would those subsidies have to be carried by the
ratepayers of Busselton?
(4) Have the
airlines in negotiation made comment on the need for upgrades to the existing
airport terminal; and, if so, what were those comments?
(5) What progress
has been made on alternative uses of the airport, including the investigation
of the use of the airport as a diversion landing site and the potential for
freight transport?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
(1) No. Negotiations are still underway.
(2) The current
agreement for the project includes a milestone for the city to sign an
in-principle agreement with an airline to commence services by 31 December
2018. The state government has requested advice from the city on its progress
to achieve this upcoming milestone.
(3) This information is held by the
City of Busselton and commercial airlines.
(4) The South
West Development Commission advises that its understanding is that the upgrade
of the terminal has not, to date, been a determining factor in regard to a commitment
to commence scheduled services to Busselton.
(5) The state
government has supported the city's application to host a Qantas pilot
training academy and has committed additional funding for supporting
infrastructure. At this point, no further decision has been made by Qantas in
that regard. I do not have information on the negotiations between the City of
Busselton and possible freight transport.