SUNSHINE Coast Airport expansion plans are gathering support after backing was given by a number of key northern neighbours.
Former Sunshine Coast Mayor and current Noosa Councillor and Deputy Mayor Bob Abbot, along with the Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry tonight confirmed they would be supporting the expansion plans.
The announcement came only days after Noosa Mayor Noel Playford said the council could see both pros and cons of the project and would not be making a submission on the proposal.
Mr Abbot said he supported the expansion plans, a number of which were crafted during his time as the Coast’s leader.
“I supported it then and I’m supporting it now,” Mr Abbot said.
He said his main concern was the prospect of the Coast ever losing the ability to land large aircraft directly, and the associated effects that would carry.
“That would be absolutely devastating to the tourism industry in general on the Sunshine Coast (if larger planes were lost to Brisbane),” he said.
“Direct flights in are absolutely essential… that’s my personal position.”
Mr Abbot also believed an east-west runway could be beneficial in unlocking northern locations to Coast residents, particularly FIFO workers and other regular, domestic travellers.
Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Peter Chenoweth confirmed the group’s support for the project after a meeting late this evening, with a formal statement set to be released this week.
“The chamber management committee has resolved to make a public statement in support of the Sunshine Coast Airport expansion,” he said.
Mr Chenoweth added the group would be encouraging locals to have their say, whether for or against the expansion, before the November 30 deadline for community consultation.
The northern support came as Sunshine Coast Business Council chairwoman Sandy Zubrinich earlier called for greater cooperation between the regions when it came to major infrastructure.
“There is now becoming this tendency to talk about Noosa and the Sunshine Coast as two different things, yet geographically it’s the same region,” she said.
She said while both councils were expected to have different agendas, there was a certain level of expectation that they would collaborate to try and acquire major, regional infrastructure.
“Each area of the Sunshine Coast offers something unique… and that’s how we should keep it. (But) both mayors should be on the same page on major infrastructure supporting the region,” she said.
Ms Zubrinich said the airport expansion project was so important the business council were seeking a meeting with Deputy Premier Jackie Trad in a bid to further press the case for the expansion.
Meanwhile Noosa Councillor Frank Pardon, a long-time Noosa region resident, said he did not believe an international airport was necessary on the Coast, given Brisbane was currently being expanded.
“The airport going international, I can’t see it,” he said.
“I’d rather see road and rail improved.”
He said he didn’t believe Noosa should be contributing given it was a Sunshine Coast Council-owned asset, and thought a “good, regional airport” was what was needed.
“For me, does the Sunshine Coast need an airport? Yeah, it does. International standard? No, it doesn’t,” Cr Pardon said.