Torres Shire Council

Media Release - 14 January 2009
Horn Island Airport Runways Extension / Upgrade Update

Torres Shire Council vigorously seeks major funding of $9.4 million to enable it to proceed with the urgent runways extension/upgrade for Torres Strait's regional airport. This work has been deemed necessary following runway rutting which has led to the cessation of the Q400 aircraft concession from early December.

This airport is the strategic gateway to Australia's northern international boundary and is paramount for police, customs, border protection, defence, quarantine, immigration, foreign affairs, health, emergency services, etc.

The high demand for regional domestic services including student travel and the emerging tourism industry is dependant on an efficient and affordable air service.

Council is now lobbying many Federal and Statement Government Ministers and other agencies for funding commitments towards this vital regional transport infrastructure project.

Council has submitted an application for a minimum of $2.0 million funding for the Airport extension/upgrade works in the second RLCIP round. The detailed application has been supported by Torres Strait Regional Authority, Torres Strait Island Regional Council, Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council and the Federal Member for Leichhardt, Hon. Jim Turnour.

Torres Shire Council looks forward to a positive funding response to the RLCIP application but there will still be over $7 million funding to be contributed from government and other sources for this essential regional project to proceed.

The necessary airport runways upgrade and extension work will provide the Torres Strait / Northern Peninsula Area region with a safe air service in larger and faster planes which are required to allow this region to maintain similar transport, freight and mail services as provided for the rest of Australia.

It must be acknowledged that there are no other existing passenger transport systems, such as road rail or sea, between our nearest metropolitan city (Cairns) and the Torres Strait. Due to the remote location and the separation of the Torres Strait island communities; air transport is the only link through which Torres Strait region people receive adequate government and community services and thus enjoy an acceptable quality of life.

Approved

Mayor Napau Pedro Stephen