Urgent funding for upgrading Albany airport navigational aids

18/10/94

The State Government is providing urgent funding for the upgrading of navigational aids at the Albany Airport.

The Government will make a grant of $100,000 to the Shire of Albany to have new domestic distance measuring equipment (DME) installed before next year's Commonwealth imposed deadline for upgrading air navigation systems throughout Australia.

The Albany Shire Council is contributing a further $110,000.

Transport Minister Eric Charlton said the Commonwealth was responsible for providing funding, but had failed to include Albany Airport on the program.

"The Commonwealth set December, next year, as the deadline but in Albany's case, it has not provided the necessary funds to install the new equipment," Mr Charlton said.

"I have written to Federal Transport Minister Laurie Brereton asking for Albany's new equipment to be paid for by the Commonwealth, but we cannot afford to wait any longer.

"There are logistical reasons why immediate action is needed. The radio transmission frequencies for the existing DMEs are to be reallocated for television use, and the new equipment will be of international standard.

"It is therefore necessary for the State Government to intervene to ensure that the Albany upgrade can go ahead before the deadline.

"Albany is one of the cloudiest airports in Western Australia, and it must have this equipment as part of its navigational aid system.

"It is also one of the busiest regional airports, recording some 6,000 flight movements each year including 12 weekly return flights to Perth and 200 Royal Flying Doctor Service flights.

"It is totally unacceptable that a small community airport like Albany should lose an essential navigation aid at their airport because of a Commonwealth decision."

The Government's action followed approaches from Deputy Premier Hendy Cowan, Primary Industry Minister and Member for Stirling, Monty House, Aboriginal Affairs Minister and Member for Albany, Kevin Prince, and National Party MLC for the South-West, Murray Montgomery.

Mr Charlton also congratulated the Albany Shire Council which had explored ways of reducing the cost of the new equipment.

Media contact:  Dean Roberts 321 7333