A local transport company owner and experienced pilot has called into question last week's multimillion-dollar investment announcement for Bathurst Airport.
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Last Wednesday, the state government announced a $2.8 million commitment to upgrades at the airport, with $1 million contributed by Bathurst Regional Council
The upgrades include improvements to taxiways and aprons to expand runway capacity and encourage more businesses to take up commercial leases at the site.
But Burke's Transport owner Graeme Burke, who has been a pilot for 33 years and lives within a kilometre of the airport, feels the funding is 'totally unnecessary.'
"I think the money could've been spent more wisely elsewhere to help create employment, particularly with the COVID-19 crisis we have on our hands at the moment," Mr Burke said.
"It might be another 10 years before the airport attracts another business and in these times and in times like this, these sorts of investments need to be put into something that'll produce a result straight away."
"If the second track happens at Mount Panorama, then 'maybe' there will be some incentive for it."
Mr Burke cited a decline in general aviation over the past 10 years and uncertainties around regional passenger transport [RPT] services as key point against further investment.
"The federal government and council have committed millions of dollars to the airport over the past six years, and it hasn't attracted one business," he said.
"Furthermore, I feel Bathurst will really struggle to maintain an RPT service in the near future as before COVID-19, it had to rely on stopping at Parkes to make it viable."
The federal government and council jointly committed $5 million to the airport in 2015, with then-Calare MP John Cobb stating the commitment was "about taking Bathurst Airport into the future as business proposition."
And Regional Express [REX], Bathurst's sole RPT provider, were forced to cut flights across the network in March as COVID-19 hit, but have since received a number of Commonwealth grants to keep flights in the air.
Mr Burke also disputes the claim that the activation of Badgerys Creek's control zone will bring more small aircraft to Bathurst.
"Bankstown Airport is only five nautical miles from Sydney Airport, which is closer than Badgerys Creek, and air services will only have to alter their flight corridors to meet demand," he said.
"As Bankstown already has an established business park, I can't see how Bathurst Airport will benefit."
In response, Bathurst mayor Bobby Bourke said the investment will "enable Bathurst to be a more significant tourism and business centre, and allow for the transport of more local goods nationally and worldwide."
"The airport is one of the key 'gateways' to the city and plays a vital role in not only people movement, but freight, logistics and training," Cr Bourke said.
"This investment is important as it results in more money being invested into the development of a key transport asset to stimulate local businesses and boost transport, logistics and flight-training related jobs."
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