The State Government has announced the commencement of further planning for the long-term infrastructure needs of the Busselton Margaret River Airport, on the back of strong passenger growth and the potential for additional services.
The $250,000 business case will assess the long-term demand and asset sustainability of the facility, with a focus on the passenger terminal and supporting infrastructure.
The State Government will allocate $127,000 towards the business case, which will be complemented by funding from the City of Busselton and other local governments in the South West.
The City of Busselton will lead the procurement of a consultant to carry out the business case work. The South West Development Commission will provide strategic oversight by chairing the working group that will offer direction on the development of the business case.
Factors that will be considered to form a recommendation on investment into potential future infrastructure include passenger and tourism growth, current infrastructure, economic impact, sustainability and funding strategies.
To support this work, the City of Busselton is undertaking a full review and update of the Busselton Margaret River Airport Master Plan.
This comes after significant State Government support to secure direct flights between Busselton and Melbourne last year, which have unlocked new opportunities for investment and job creation.
Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
“The success of the Jetstar service and FIFO charters has enabled the Cook Government to partner with the City of Busselton to develop a business case for further development of the Busselton Margaret River Airport.
“This airport is an asset for the South West region and it is great to see this business case supported by the local governments of the region.”
