Published on Friday, 6 September 2019 at 2:21:31 PM
Recently completed upgrades to the Geraldton Regional Airport are paving the way to long-term economic growth for the City region.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the $24 million resurfacing and extension of the airport runway to 2400m is part of a long-standing plan to open the region to global markets.
“The ability for larger aircraft to be accommodated at the Geraldton Airport provides an important whole-of-network role in Western Australia aviation, tourism and export industries,” he said.
“The significance of this upgrade was recognised long before the works were completed when in April, the Geraldton Airport was named as an alternative emergency landing site for international flights unable to land in Perth.
“Now that larger aircraft such as the Airbus A330 or Boeing 787 can land here, the region has become more accessible to both the interstate and international tourism industries.
“Whilst larger planes mean new airfreight export opportunities directly into Asia can now be explored.”
Construction on the $24 million Airport Runway Resurfacing and Extension Project was undertaken by locally based contractor WBHO. The project was jointly funded with the Australian Government Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) contributing $10 million, the State Government Regional Airports Development Scheme (RADS) $6.5 million and the City $7.5 million.
PICTURE CAPTION:
The Geraldton Regional Airport runway extension was officially opened on Friday 6 September 2019 by Federal Member for Durack the Hon. Melissa Price MP, City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn (center) and Member for the Agricultural Region Hon. Laurie Graham MLC.
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