East-West airplane route discussed at senate hearing

Published on 26 April 2018

Rockhampton Regional Council is looking at the next steps towards a possible East-West airplane route after Council appeared at a Senate hearing into the operation, regulation and funding of air route service delivery to rural, regional and remote communities.

Airport Committee Chair Councillor Neil Fisher and Airport Manager Tracey Baxter attended hearings in Longreach and Winton after Council put in a submission and said it was well received by senators and other Councils.

“An East-West route is something that has been talked about for a long time and would see a milk run flight run from Rockhampton to Winton via Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Alpha and Emerald,” Cr Fisher said.

In some ways we have gone backwards in the provision of air routes with many of these communities having these air services thirty years ago, Cr Fisher said.

“These rural markets are crying out for improved accessibility to quality health and education services provided here in Rockhampton as well as expanding tourism and business opportunities provided by our region.

“There is a real opportunity to establish a new flight route and it was great to present our case to the senate inquiry and to see it welcomed wholehearted by those other councils.

“From here, the next step is to look at how we can work together and take our case to the next level and we look forward to working with other councils to do that,” Cr Fisher said.

Hansard of the senate inquiry is available here.