Passenger flights to Bairnsdale Airport floated in bid to boost tourism to regional Victoria
The “tyranny of distance” has stopped many tourists from discovering East Gippsland’s natural beauty. But a proposal for commercial flights could now take off. TAKE THE POLL
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Tourism in Victoria’s east could take off under a proposal for commercial passenger flights to Gippsland.
East Gippsland Shire Council has commissioned a new masterplan that will scope out whether more tourist flights to Bairnsdale Airport are viable.
The plan could help the council secure a slice of the federal government's $100 million cash splash on regional airport upgrades, Mayor Natalie O’Connell said.
She told the Herald Sun passenger flights had a “real potential to increase tourism”, with possible connections to Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.
“We are further east in Gippsland so we feel like we would be in a prime spot to attract those Melbourne-based tourists,” Cr O’Connell said.
“It is a four-hour drive from one side to the other and you are still in the same shire. It is such a large area but we have some many assets to show off.
“If you can cut down on travel time, people can be out and about more.”
The regional aerodrome is used for firefighting, the air ambulance, fleet maintenance, courier services and charter flights under existing arrangements.
But passenger flights could cut in half the 280-odd kilometre trek from Melbourne, which takes about 3.5 hours by car or almost four hours by train.
Cr O’Connell said tourists were often discouraged by unreliable and long public transport trips to East Gippsland.
“People don’t want to be inconvenienced,” she said.
Gippsland MP Darren Chester said the tyranny of distance was “holding East Gippsland back”, with the region “largely undiscovered by domestic and international tourists”.
Covering almost 10 per cent of the state, it boasts lakes, the Snowy River, a string of national parks, the Buchan Caves and Ninety Mile Beach.
“The tourism industry in East Gippsland has enormous potential but a lot of the product is still underdeveloped, primarily due to lack of investment by government on public land,” Mr Chester said.
“We have been able to secure increased funding for road and rail connections but the lack of regular passenger transport to the region is a limiting factor.”
The Victoria Tourism Industry Council also backed a bid to boost regional tourism with better flight options.
In a submission to the state government’s regional tourism review, the council called for more direct services between Sydney and Bendigo, Kuala Lumpur and Avalon, and to East Gippsland.
“VTIC believes consideration should be given to expanding airline capacity into East Gippsland to service towns such as Sale, Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance,” the council’s Chris Porter said.
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“This would support increased visitation to the region and its many attractions.
“Given the lead times required to construct an airport and its facilities, planning needs to commence to identify a preferred location, which means connectivity to international flights and other modes of travel, particularly rail, must be addressed.”
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