Mining Slowdown to Force Emerald Airport Budget Down

The local CQ News newspaper has this week reported that money is flying out of the Emerald Airport with fears its 2014-15 income will plummet $1 million below budget.  The Central Highlands Regional Council is blaming the loss mostly due to the downturn in the resources industry, forcing a decrease in passenger numbers.

QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOS at Emerald Airport  (File photo)

Council had framed the airport budget around a projected 280,000 passengers, however this figure has had to be revised down where passenger numbers will be somewhere between 220,000 and 250,000.

Also, Virgin Australia and Qantaslink owe the Council a total of $606,000 in outstanding charges.  It's also reported that both Virgin and Qantas submitted a request to council for financial relief, which was not approved.

Virgin ATR 72 VH-FVM at Emerald Airport  (File photo)

In the application received by council, Qantas asked for financial relief in the form of revised passenger charges, while Virgin wanted a 50% reduction in handling fees for a six-month period.  Both cited financial hardship.

The Isaac and Barcaldine councils also reportedly knocked them back.