Federal election 2022: Barnaby Joyce announces $10 million funding commitment for Rockhampton Airport

Rockhampton Airport could be one step closer to becoming an “international export hub”, with the Coalition committing $10 million to help fund vital new infrastructure. Here’s all you need to know about the latest funding announcement.

Rockhampton Airport could be one step closer to becoming an “international export hub”, with the Coalition committing $10 million to help fund a new apron, an area where aircraft are parked.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce flew into Rockhampton on Wednesday to make the announcement and emphasise how important it was that Australia became “as strong as possible as quickly as possible”.

The construction of the new apron, Bay 7, would incentivise airlines to increase commercial flights, as well as provide more bargaining power to attract other airlines and open up new routes for the airport.

The apron would also allow for additional, large defence aircraft to land during exercises without disrupting regular public transport and increase emergency and disaster responses by allowing additional parking space for large water bombers, basing, refuelling and provisioning of response teams.

This investment would follow $25 million from the federal government under a Community Development Grant and a loan of up to $30 million from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility provided to Alliance Airlines in 2021 for the construction of a $60 million aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Rockhampton Airport.

Mr Joyce said the investment ensured the airport would keep pace with the region’s growth trajectory.

“This investment will mean jobs for the people of Rockhampton with construction providing 120 direct construction jobs and 126 indirect jobs,” he said.

“Upgrading the airport will allow the Rockhampton region to capitalise on major developments in the coal and resource sector and cement its position as the gateway to the Galilee Basin.

“This is already an airport of significant importance to the local region, having served as a vital water reloading station during the 2018 Gracemere bushfires, and this upgrade will enhance the region’s ability to respond to natural disasters.”

Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said it was critical to continue to help the airport grow to meet future demand.

“There were 439,6911 passengers through the airport between 2019 and 2020,” Ms Landry said.

“I am proud the Coalition has committed $10 million to the airport which I believe is one of the best regional airports in Australia.

“This airport is something I have focused on enormously since I was elected.

“What we want to do is make this an international export hub and this is the first part of that.

“We will get this first stage finished and then down the track we will be looking for more funding to build an enormous warehouse as well as cold and dry storage.

“This is the future for Rockhampton.”

She said if the Coalition was to win the federal election, works to construct the apron could start “within a couple of months after the election”.

“For Rockhampton Airport to be viable for international flights you have to have the tourism and the cargo underneath and this is a step in that direction,” she said.

“We have two meatworks right on our doorstep. To have our fresh beef go directly to places like Japan and India will be enormous for this region.”

Rockhampton region Mayor Tony Williams said the project would be “game changing” for Rockhampton Airport.

“It will allow not only opportunities for freight but also for operations at the airport to not be interrupted during defence exercises,” Mr Williams said.

“We want to make sure there are no disruptions to our domestic passenger numbers.

“Having that apron will allow that to occur.”

He said having an integrated freight hub and opportunities to export out of Rockhampton would be “fantastic”.

“We want to be in that space moving forward,” he said.

“We want to plan to grow and we need the federal government to assist council in that plan for our region and it is great to see these announcements coming on the back of council’s work in delivering these priorities.

“This is something we believe is going to be very important for our airport moving forward and that means jobs and growth for the region and this announcement today is going to allow us to achieve that.”