Mt Magnet gets Government funds for airport upgrade

10/11/00
Transport Minister Murray Criddle announced today that Mt Magnet Airport would receive $250,000 in the latest round of State Government grants aimed at improving regional airport facilities.
The Minister said the money would be used to assist in a major $505,000 upgrade that would allow the airport to be used in all weather conditions and cater for regular passenger services.
Announcing the grant today as part of the 2000-2001 Regional Airports Development Scheme (RADS), Mr Criddle said that attracting a regular passenger service to Mt Magnet would be a major boost for people working and living in the town.
Mr Criddle said that the $250,000 Government allocation would be used for sealing the runway. The shire council had previously secured RADS funding of $20,000 for the acquisition of a beepback radio unit and sealing an apron area.
"These improvements will provide real benefits to industry, local mine workers and their families," Mr Criddle said.
"The sealing of the runway will represent the final works required to bring Mt Magnet airport up to standards that attract high quality and reliable fly-in/fly-out charter operations and RPT services.
"It will assist Vanadium Australia at Windimurra and Hill 50 Gold Mine, at Mt Magnet, which needs the certainty of an airport that is available in all weather conditions.
"Vanadium Australia and Hill 50 have committed to an ongoing partnership with the Shire of Mt Magnet to assist with maintenance of the new facility."
Mr Criddle said that Mt Magnet Airport received daily mining charter flights as well as a mid-week RPT service operated by Maroomba Airlines. The Murchison Health Service regularly flew medical staff via Mt Magnet to nursing posts in the region.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service used the airport 74 times last year.
The Minister said that the upgrade of Mt Magnet Airport underlined the importance of the RADS scheme which was contributing $1.8 million to the improvement of regional airport infrastructure through this year.
He said that since its inception seven years ago, RADS had contributed around $12 million to almost 80 airports around the State.
"In the past seven years we have seen consistent improvements in airport facilities in regional Western Australia," he said
"The State Government is committed to helping regional communities build better airport infrastructure. We believe it is essential for social and economic wellbeing."
In total, 28 projects across Western Australia received RADS funding this year.
Media contact: Doug Cunningham, (08) 9321 7333