Airport study offer hope for West Coast tourism boost

TOURISTS could be flown direct from Victoria into one of Tasmania’s more remote visitor hot spots if a feasibility study stacks up.

A feasibility study will examine the potential benefits to Strahan and the West Coast by developing the Strahan Airport. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

TOURISTS could be flown direct from Victoria into one of Tasmania’s more remote visitor hot spots if a feasibility study into the development of Strahan Airport as a visitor and freight gateway stacks up.

Currently the airport only welcomes semi-regular flights from across Tasmania including the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Par Avion and Helicopter Resources.

But the West Coast Council is hoping a Deloitte Access Economics study will create a business case to develop the airport to take more flights from within Tasmania and direct from the mainland.

“A study into the feasibility of operations at the Strahan Airport was highlighted during the creation of the West Coast Community Plan 2025 with a commitment to create a business case for the development of the facility as a potential visitor and freight gateway,” Mayor Phil Vickers said.

“The study will help address conditional interest from transport operators for regular passenger transport, including from Victoria.”

The Strahan Airport is owned and run by the council and is a registered facility that complies with relevant Civil Aviation Safety Authority requirements.

The feasibility study is being funded by the council with contributions from the Tasmanian Government, TasPorts, RACT Strahan Village and other stakeholders.

Strahan Village general manager Adam Brooks said the airport was a key gateway to the West Coast while TasPorts said the facility was crucial to addressing both future tourism and freight needs.

The study will determine the current supply and demand for flights, the costs of developing the airport to accommodate larger aircraft and potential business opportunities more air access could create.