Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Demographer Bernard Salt identified good air services as a quality shared by strong regional cities. Port Macquarie has frequent air services, but the current terminal, which was completed in 1994, does not meet current needs nor traveller expectations. That's why I was delighted to be able to secure an election commitment at the 2016 election for the federal government to provide funding assistance to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to upgrade the current airport. This project, which will be worth around $10 million, is a great example of federal, state and local governments working together. The federal government has contributed $1.25 million, the state government, $5 million—I certainly commend the state member Leslie Williams for her hard work in securing that state commitment—and council, some $3.6 million. I'm pleased to say that the work will commence next month and will be carried out in two phases to ensure that there is an efficient building program whilst minimising disruption to passengers, as one of the challenges in a project such as this is keeping a busy airport open while, at the same time, ensuring that work is completed as quickly as possible. The works will provide a doubling of the existing floor space and make departures and arrivals at the airport more efficient. Completion is expected in 2019. It is a much needed piece of infrastructure in a modern city like Port Macquarie.