Mayor Brad Carter praised the State and Federal governments for securing the funds, after intense lobbying by him during two visits from Major General Mick Slater, the head of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
Meanwhile, passengers using taxis to get to and from Rockhampton Airport could soon be slugged with a $2 surcharge.
Council recently voted to approve the introduction of a charge to taxi operators in order to boost income from the council-owned airport.
But the measure has to be approved by a full council meeting, and with Mayor Brad Carter among those said to be opposed, it's not certain to be rubber stamped.
The chairman of Rocky Cabs said he was sure some taxi drivers would lobby their councillors to vote against the fee, and that if the charge is introduced, he believes some cab owners will carry out a threat to boycott the airport. Although, with 65 cabs operating in the city, he says there will be plenty of drivers available for airline passengers who require them.
In return for the levy the airport would provide CCTV coverage of the taxi rank for customer services purposes and up to $10,000 a year towards the cost of employing a taxi marshal.
It should also be made known that a $2 fee is levied on taxis at Townsville, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast airports, with $2.50 at Hobart and $3 at both Cairns and Mackay.
The airport's finances have been in the spotlight lately. The Rockhampton Airport director has said there was continuing pressure from the Council to increase its operating profit and hence the financial return to council. The closure of the airport during January's floods has resulted in a $200,000 shortfall in annual income compared with the original budget despite increased revenue from commercial activity in the terminal, paid parking and rental cars. It has also being reported that Tiger Airways' decision to cancel its services between Rockhampton and Melbourne would cost the airport between $50,000 and $90,000 in income.
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