BUSINESS opportunities for the Swan Hill Aerodrome will be
explored in a new business study for the precinct.
The State Government will
spend $15,000 through Regional Development Victoria’s Putting Locals First
Program and Swan Hill Rural City Council will spend $5000 on a comprehensive
study of the aerodrome’s business opportunities.
Council’s acting chief
executive officer David Leahy said the business plan, which would provide an
extensive review of existing and future infrastructure and services, would act
as a catalyst for ongoing investment in Swan Hill.
“This is the first stage
in what we hope will be a larger investment,” Mr Leahy said.
“We need to find
a way to make the aerodrome a successfully operating business and a commercial
asset to the council.”
Council currently has plans to invest up to $1
million to upgrade the runway, and is waiting for an application response on a
further $2 million through the Regional Aviation Access Program.
Mr Leahy
said the Swan Hill Aerodrome had become a drain on council funds in recent years
due to the deteriorated state of the sealed runway.
“We are constantly
working on the runway just to keep it safe,” Mr Leahy said.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s edition of The Guardian (28/3/13).
