The newly redeveloped Emerald Airport terminal is already under pressure from increased numbers of charter flights arriving at the Airport carrying fly-in, fly-out workers.
The Airport infrastructure is struggling to cope with anywhere from nine to 13 passenger aircraft movements per day – this is a 30% rise from 2010.
QantasLink now operates 34 flights per week, while the recent arrival of Skytrans charters, resulting from the temporary closure of Clermont Aerodrome, along with Alliance Airlines and Pel Air (Regional Express) charters sees as many as 13 flights a day at times.
With as many as 15 new coal mines predicted for the Central Highlands, the Airport now can cope for a while, but further expansion and development is being urged by the Central Highlands Regional Council.
One possible vision being put forward was another 400 car parks, two more apron bays and the runway widened to 45 metres.
Council is also awaiting a response on the success of a funding application for the walk-through metal detection, carry-on x-ray, explosive trace detection, checked bag screening and hand wanding equipment necessary under the new Federal Aviation legislation.
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