FLYING HIGH

4 March 2010

MARK ROBINSON AND WAYNE DREW

HAMILTON Airport will receive a $2.8 million upgrade.

The airport will be modernised and upgraded for expansion through a $2.3 million State Government grant plus a Southern Grampians Shire Council contribution of $575,000.

Regional and Rural Development parliamentary secretary Jaala Pulford announced the upgrade during a flying visit to Hamilton yesterday morning.

Ms Pulford said the time was right for an upgrade, because the airport's aviation needs had outgrown the current infrastructure, developed in the late 1960s.

"Hamilton Airport is a key driver of investment throughout the Southern Grampians Shire, supporting current and new industries, especially with the increase of services from local airlines," Ms Pulford said.

She said the upgrade and modernisation of infrastructure would prepare the airport for new services, more passengers and increase maintenance contract work by expanding the maintenance hangar and providing new terminal facilities.

Ms Pulford said the shire’s contribution of $575,000 rounded out the total project amount to $2,875,000.

"Hamilton Airport's key stakeholder is Sharp Airlines, currently operating 34 Regular Passenger Transport (RPT) flights per week, commuting business people, tourists and the general public," Ms Pulford said.

"The Hamilton Airport Upgrade project will ensure the continuing support of the Southern Grampians Shire and Great South Coasts tourist industry and business networks.”

She said the upgrade would also include a better capacity for aviation training and provide for better emergency medical, health, fire and rescue services.

"This investment will help build infrastructure to position the airport for expanding passenger and maintenance services.

"With passenger numbers rising due to increased regional investments in the wind energy, mineral sands and timber industries, combining with additional flight school students, Hamilton Airport is set for an exciting future. “

Shire Mayor Marcus Rentsch said the upgrade would provide huge economic, educational, social and tourism benefits for the shire.

"Council is confident that this upgrade will further consolidate Hamilton's role as a regional centre and open new doors for businesses and government agencies to establish themselves here in the geographical centre of the south-west,” he said.

“It obviously supports their efficiency as well as opens doors for a greater level of business interaction than what otherwise would have been.

"The upgrade supports the CFA and DSE in providing a fire fighting centre and links the Western District Health Service to Melbourne and Geelong hospitals.

"Tourism links are also strengthened with people who have immediate links to Melbourne and Adelaide for social or business reasons," he said.

Sharp Airlines managing director Malcolm Sharp is excited about the options.

He believes that modernising the airport is essential in expanding and developing Hamilton and its businesses.

“As the airport is at the moment, nothing can grow because there is no infrastructure to allow our business or other businesses to grow. With this funding it will certainly allow businesses to grow, whether it be our airlines or our flying school.

“Upgrading the terminal building is a major consideration. As Jaala pointed out it is a little bit dated. When you have executives and people coming into Hamilton to do business and this is the front entrance it doesn’t give them the best first impression,” Mr Sharp said.

He said there has been very little capital investment at the airport in the past 30 years which made the need for a full redevelopment important.

The redevelopments will allow Sharp Airlines to improve safety at the facility by modernising the runway lighting system to a low energy system, allowing pilots to receive automated weather and strengthening the tarmac as well as increase size of aircrafts being used.

“With the lengthening of the runway it allows us to carry a full capacity out of here. At the moment we are limited to about 80 per cent of our capacity so that extra 20 per cent certainly adds a lot of value.

“For arriving and departing flights of course will have the opportunity for larger aircrafts to use the airport in the future. We have plans for five or 10 years that we might upgrade to a 34-seat aircraft and if we do that then obviously the infrastructure will be here to do that,” he said.

Mr Sharp said that the businesses’ commitment to the area and its ability to demonstrate the growth of the business through measured success allowed it to apply for the grant.