Representatives from the Mid-North Coast’s three councils will pitch their plan for a regional aviation hub directly to the Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister later this month.

Independent MP for Lyne Robert Oakeshott secured the meeting through a question to the Prime Minister in Parliament today.

In requesting the meeting, Mr Oakeshott said the development of the Nancy Bird Walton regional aviation project was agreed by all three councils in the region as their number one priority for funding through the Government’s Jobs Fund.

Mr Rudd said he would be interested to discuss the project directly with representatives from Greater Taree City Council, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and Kempsey Shire Council when he hosts the Community Cabinet meeting in Port Macquarie on August 25.

“I look forward to engaging with representatives of the Nancy Bird Walton aviation project when we gather soon in Port Macquarie and we will see how it stacks up against the department’s assessment criteria,” Mr Rudd said in his reply.

“One of the reasons we attend these (Community Cabinet) meetings is to provide an opportunity for local community proposals to be put forward to the minister concerned, so I would invite the Member (Mr Oakeshott) to organise a meeting for myself and the Infrastructure Minister Mr Albanese with the councils involved.”

Mr Oakeshott said he was pleased the three councils would have an opportunity to personally present their Jobs Fund submission to Mr Rudd and Mr Albanese.

“I am particularly keen for the Prime Minister to see the spirit of cooperation in which the three councils have approached this partnership to deliver what I believe would be an outstanding project for the entire Mid-North Coast,” he said.

“I have been in contact with the Minister regarding this project since it was submitted but I look forward to seeing the council mayors, general managers and administrators having their say directly to government on what this project means to their own local government area and the region as a whole.”

Key elements of the regional aviation submission include funding of an upgrade of Port Macquarie airport to accommodate more jet services, the replacement of Taree regional airport’s runway and upgrades to Kempsey airport to reinvigorate its existing assets with a focus on pilot training and aircraft maintenance. The project was submitted in June.

“Clearly there is great potential for short-term job creation through this project, but of even greater significance is the longer-term impact on jobs growth and sustainability of having a strong, coordinated and complementary suite of aviation services for the region,” Mr Oakeshott said.

“In the context of our entrenched high unemployment rate and our status as an employment priority region for the government, this ‘sustainability’ factor is perhaps the most exciting and attractive aspect of the proposal.”

The Community Cabinet meeting will be held at Westport High School in Port Macquarie on August 25, commencing at 6pm.

Photo: Gregg Faulkner