As the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and NSW Premier Mike Baird paid a visit to the Bega Valley Shire to announce funding for local tourism infrastructure, various numbers flew back and forth.
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Mr Turnbull mentioned $50million, while council’s general manager, Leanne Barnes talked of $34.6million.
Below we do our best to break down the figures:
Merimbula Airport
The federal government is giving $1.2million towards airport upgrades. The money is not tied to the upcoming election and is budgeted through the National Stronger Regions Fund.
This money must be matched dollar for dollar by the council, which plans to use the airport reserve fund to fund the matching loan.
The money will be used for passenger and baggage security and freight handling and contribute towards the sealing of the car park on the east side of Arthur Kaine Drive.
The state government is giving $4.4million to extend the runway north, seal the runway end safety area (RESA), plus “realigning and better definition of the taxiway area” Ms Barnes said.
This is round two of funding from the Restart NSW Regional Tourism (Airports) fund. BVSC received nearly $1million in December from round one of this funding program, which will be used for fire support infrastructure.
The Prime Minister’s office said work was expected to begin this year on the upgrade of Merimbula Airport.
Port of Eden
The state government announced $29million in funding to extend the breakwater wharf to accommodate cruise ships in excess of 300 metres.
It is “Option 3” of the Eden Wharf proposal, the “future proof” design, to accommodate vessels up to 260m (all weather) and vessels 260-330m-plus (weather dependent). The plan includes a 90-metre long wharf extension.
The $29million announced Monday, May 23, is in addition to prior commitments.
It will be added to $3million of state government funding (announced in March 2014) and $2million council funding (announced in July 2013).
There is also a federal government commitment of $10million, also applauded during Monday’s visit by the Prime Minister.
However, the $10million figure was first promised by federal Labor, then agreed to by then Liberal candidate Peter Hendy during the 2013 election campaign.
Ms Barnes said the total project cost of the wharf extension, at $44 million, was now fully funded.
The wharf extension work is expected to be completed by 2018.