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 $50 million while council’s general manager, Leanne Barnes talked of $34.6 million.
Below we do our best to break down the figures:
Merimbula Airport
The federal government is giving $1.2 million from the National Stronger Regions fund. This money must be matched dollar for dollar by council who 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. Council received nearly $1 million 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 commence this year on the upgrade of Merimbula Airport.
Port of Eden
The state government announced $29 million 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+ (weather dependent). The plan includes a 90 metre long wharf extension.
The $29 million announced Monday, May 23, will be added to $10 million of federal money announced during the 2013 election, $3 million state government funding (announced in March, 2014) and $2 million council funding (announced in July, 2013).
Council’s general manager, Leanne Barnes said the total project cost of the wharf extension, at $44 million, was now fully funded.
The Prime Minister’s office said the wharf extension work was expected to be completed by 2018.
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