Date

Thursday, 17 June 2021

Release

Shellharbour City Council has started work on one of the key elements of its $20.35M Shellharbour Airport upgrade project.

Construction of the $2.6M aviation business park began today, with Shellharbour Mayor Councillor Marianne Saliba and The Hon. Peter Poulos MLC breaking ground on the project.

The business park will create 20,000m2 of land ready for use by a variety of aviation businesses, significantly expanding the economic potential of the airport.

Construction is expected to take six months, with Western Earthmoving Pty Ltd awarded the construction contract.

The new aviation business park is part of a $20.35M airport upgrade project designed to grow and foster opportunities for economic development and jobs growth.

Shellharbour City Council contributed $4.35M to the overall upgrade project, while the NSW State Government’s Growing Local Economies Fund, part of the Regional Growth Fund, provided $15.97M.

Shellharbour City Council has already completed the new passenger terminal, runway works and lighting, upgrades to short and long-term parking and additional aircraft parking capacity.

The entire airport project is expected to be completed less than two years after work began, with the business park and additional runway lighting the only elements yet to be finalised.

Shellharbour Mayor Councillor Marianne Saliba said the business park would be developed according to demand, with hangars either built by the council and leased out, or built by businesses on Council's land through public-private partnerships.

“The development of an aviation economic development park is a central part of the Shellharbour Airport upgrade project and will provide up to 13 additional aviation-related industries,” Cr Saliba said.

“There has been a rapid uptake of industrial opportunities and these additions and improvements will be very attractive to businesses.

“There is great potential for growth in this area and I look forward to welcoming new aviation businesses to our airport,” she said.

Cr Saliba said that the importance of the airport upgrade project extended beyond the needs generated by regular passenger transport.

She said they would benefit the entire region, including Shellharbour City residents and the wider Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands communities.

“We have a fantastic commercial service provider in Link Airways, which connects our airport to Melbourne (via Essendon) and Brisbane,” Cr Saliba said.

“Just as important is providing our city and the wider region with opportunities for economic growth and more jobs. This new business park will help foster this,” she said.

Cr Saliba once again thanked the NSW State Government for its support in funding the project.The Hon. Peter Poulos, MLC said that the airport project reinforced the NSW Government's
commitment to the region.

“By working together, we will deliver more jobs, investment and prosperity for the local
community,” he said.

Media enquiries: Kelli Wells 0448 361 008.

Last updated : Thu 24 Jun 2021