Port authority unhappy with airport sale

The Mackay Port Authority says it is disappointed the Queensland Government has decided to sell off the airport.

The Government is selling the airport to raise the money needed to build a new hospital.

Port authority chairman Graham Davies says the number of people using the airport grew 12 per cent last year and the port authority is prepared for future growth.

He says staff have worked hard to improve the airport and now it has been taken away.

From a board perspective and management perspective the challenges have been netted to continue that growth, he said.

I mean that growth has given great satisfaction to the people who work within the port authority, or the airport, so now that is going to be taken away from us.

Mackay community leaders are supporting the Government's decision to sell the airport.

Many locals say they were caught off-guard by the announcement, but most agree it is a good move.

Narelle Pearse from the Regional Economic Development Corporation says the decision makes sense.

If you have to spend $400 million in infrastructure investment, you need to get the money from somewhere, she said.

The head of Mackay Tourism, David Phillips, says the privatisation of the airport could bring better services to the region and expects there will be a lot of buyer interest.

It's a destination with foreseeable continuing growth in air traffic and I can't see that changing in the short-term, he said.

The Nationals' Member for Mirani, Ted Malone, has welcomed the funding for the new hospital, but says the Government has gone about it the wrong way.

I think it's selling the family silver quite frankly, he said.

The sale of the airport is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Source: ABC News