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Mining spurs Coober Pedy airport upgrade

Media Release | 27 May 2008

The Coober Pedy Airport will receive a $530,000 grant for an upgrade to its terminal and airstrip.

Minister for Regional Development Karlene Maywald says the State Government will provide $500,000 to upgrade the terminal and $30,000 for the airstrip from its Upper Spencer Gulf & Outback Enterprise Zone Fund.

"Coober Pedy is set to become a major service centre for the industries of Outback South Australia, particularly the resource and tourism sectors," Minister Maywald says.

"The airport is assuming a greater role in the economic and social life of the Outback as the Far North mining boom gathers momentum.

""The project will support the three key mines in the area, improving fly in-fly out services.

"The funding pledge demonstrates the State Government's commitment to improving infrastructure in remote and regional areas."

The Coober Pedy Council will need to provide its long-term financial plan for the airport, including maintenance, depreciation and other costs as well as commitment of funding to complete the project.

District Council of Coober Pedy mayor Steve Baines says this is a great first step towards a major regional airport.

"This is terrific news for the council. With the Northern Regional Development Board, we are now in a position to move forward with other key stakeholders to pursue additional funding that will see our vision of a new airport terminal come to fruition sooner rather than later.

"The current terminal has served the community well but with passenger numbers increasing from just less than 4,000 in 2003 to 11,000 this financial year, the time has come to better cater for the future needs of air travellers using the Coober Pedy Airport."

The Upper Spencer Gulf & Outback Enterprise Zone Fund has committed $2.9 million for projects since 2005-06.