THE $21 million upgrade to Port Macquarie Airport will be officially opened next week by Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss.
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He will be joined by Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor Peter Besseling to unveil the Port Macquarie Airport Stage 1A airside upgrade project on Thursday, March 13.
The project forms part of the Mid North Coast Regional Aviation Plan, which also includes improvements to Taree and Kempsey airports.
The upgrade to the runway, taxiway and RPT apron was funded through a $15 million federal Community Infrastructure Grant with $6 million injection from Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
Mayor Peter Besseling said the official opening would mark an important day for the Hastings community, with the upgraded runway now providing the capability for up to 180-seat B737/A320 aircraft for the first time in the airport's 60 year history.
The upgraded infrastructure and facilities will promote further growth in air services and passenger numbers at Port Macquarie to underpin the region's future growth, economic development and tourism potential.
Cr Besseling said it was important to highlight that the upgrade had been delivered with no impact on council's general rate fund or at the expense of other council projects or services.
Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie has seized the airport upgrade opening to revisit the possibility of direct flights to Melbourne.
"This month I met with Qantas CEO Alan Joyce who indicated he would have a look at it and I will be meeting with Virgin CEO John Borghetti hopefully this month to discuss the idea.
"Mr Borghetti has already written to me indicating there may be possibilities in the medium to longer term for the entry of Tigerair in the local market with a Melbourne service and his airline will continue to monitor current patronage of the Sydney route."