House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Mount Gambier Airport MOUNT GAMBIER AIRPORT Mr PEGLER House of Assembly Mount Gambier MOUNT GAMBIER AIRPORT Mr PEGLER (Mount Gambier) (14:57): My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer tell the house about— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! Mr PEGLER House of Assembly Mr PEGLER: —the upgrade to Mount Gambier Airport? The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly Playford Minister for Workers Rehabilitation Minister for Defence Industries Minister for Veterans' Affairs The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:57): I can, and can I acknowledge the member for Mount Gambier and his lobbying that he has engaged in of me on behalf of the people he represents in the very fine city of Mount Gambier. I am pleased to tell the house that the state government yesterday announced that it is contributing towards an $800,000 upgrade of Mount Gambier Airport. The airport upgrade will include new runway lighting to reduce fog-related cancellations and a 50-car secure long-term car park to make a smoother trip for commuters and help secure for the South-East a greater share— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: —of the fly-in fly-out mining workforce. Currently, Mount Gambier Airport is affected by cancellations and scheduled flight delays on approximately 20 days every year due to foggy conditions, and upgrading the lighting could reduce this to just one or two days a year. This will help improve reliability for current commercial flights, as well as fewer delays for commuters travelling from Mount Gambier to Adelaide and Melbourne. Importantly, the upgrade will also assist the Royal Flying Doctor Service, who regularly respond to emergencies from the airport and often face delays. The upgrade to Mount Gambier Airport will also pave the way for bigger aircraft to fly in to the city in the future, as well as improve the chances of the region being a good location for workers from across Australia who need to fly to remote locations to work in the booming resources sector. The state government's contribution towards Mount Gambier Airport is $481,875 from the South-East Innovation and Investment Fund, while the District Council of Grant will provide the remainder of the funding and will manage the project with the Mount Gambier and district airport committee. The upgrade to Mount Gambier Airport is expected to start next month and will be finished within a year. This is another example of the state government's commitment to securing jobs and boosting the South-East's economy.