Use it or we lose it, says mayor

THE Clarence Valley must use the Grafton Regional Airport, or it will lose it, says Mayor Richie Williamson.

ATTRACTING CUSTOMERS: Airport users want the Grafton terminal to be a more enjoyable place to use.

THE Clarence Valley must use the Grafton Regional Airport, or it will lose it, says Mayor Richie Williamson.

At Tuesday's Clarence Valley Council environment, planning and works committee meeting, a report was tabled showing passenger numbers had dropped by 1074 in the first half of 2013-14.

This continued a trend of declining passenger numbers since Regional Express took over flights from the airport at the start of 2007.

Cr Williamson said the council talked regularly with the carrier, which continued to reaffirm its commitment to the Grafton service.

He says improvements to the airport's tarmac and aprons, which will be part of the upgrade of the airport, will improve its utility.

Cr Williamson said its proximity to the Pacific Highway could also be a plus once work on the upgrade began.

"One of the on/off ramps is virtually next to the airport," he said.

He said like most people who wanted to keep the REX service operating from the airport, he had no clear ideas how to fix the problem.

But he has urged the council to become involved in the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Regional Aviation.

He successfully moved the committee's report to the full council meeting next week to include a recommendation for the council to make a submission to the inquiry.

"I can email the terms of reference to councillors during the week," he said.

Cr Jim Simmons said passenger figures had shown an alarming trend downwards from a peak of more than 22,000 in 2007-08.

"We have to find a way to reverse that trend," he said. "We know people are using regional airports at Ballina, Lismore and Coffs Harbour."

He suggested improving the airport terminal to make it more welcoming to people could help.

Committee chairwoman Margaret McKenna said some council research had shown airport users want the terminal to be a more enjoyable place to use.

"I speak strongly in support of the regional airport ... mainly because the 7000 people it had carried so far this financial year are 7000 people who have not travelled on the Pacific Highway," she said.

The Daily Examiner contacted REX for comment, but it failed to return calls.

Originally published as Use it or we lose it, says mayor