COOBER PEDY’S MILLION DOLLAR AIRPORT TO COMMENCE IN 2009
Million Dollar Smiles as local Mayor briefs Regional Development Minister on regional issues: Mayor Steve Baines and Hon Rory McEwan MP after announcing the million dollar upgrade to Coober Pedy's airport on Thursday 4, September
The Hon. Rory McEwen MP, South Australian Minister for Regional Development and also Guest Speaker at the annual Regional Development SA (RDSA) Dinner on Thursday 4th September, announced that the upgrade to the Coober Pedy Airport would commence in 2009. The South Australian Government has officially allocated funding to the tune of $530,000 for a major upgrade of the Coober Pedy Airport and airstrip in line with increased mining development in the region.
Mr McEwen is the newly appointed Minister for Regional Development and in his address to the state’s Regional Economic Development Board, he emphasised the need for adding value in the state’s regional communities as mining took place. Mr. McEwen said that major growth in regional areas will evolve from the longer term infrastructure plans and in effect not to place unreasonable weight on the mining sector.
The Coober Pedy Airport departure lounge
The announcement of the Coober Pedy Airport upgrade was welcomed by Coober Pedy’s Mayor, Steve Baines who said, “The District Council of Coober Pedy is greatly appreciative of the State Government for providing Coober Pedy with the $530,000 grant to reseal the main runway and upgrade the airport terminal. Coober Pedy has in recent years been positioning itself as South Australia’s northern gateway and sees the airport as being an integral part of this plan”.
Mayor Baines added that, “It is pleasing to see the confidence shown by the State Government, through the Upper Spencer Gulf & Outback Enterprise Zone Fund, in assisting Coober Pedy to progress this plan. The District Council of Coober Pedy has also resolved to allocate $500,000 in its 2008/2009 budget to the airport terminal upgrade, bringing the total allocation for the airport terminal upgrade to date to $1 million.”
Margaret Mackay
Coober Pedy Regional Times
Categories: COOBER PEDY News & Events
Coober Pedy Regional Times 