Press Releases

Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, has welcomed today’s announcement by Rex Airlines of their intent to restore a variety of air links in and out of Mildura.

The initiative will see Rex reinstate air links to Sydney and Adelaide and introduce a link to Broken Hill from 9 July, thus enhancing the tourism market for both Mildura and Broken Hill.

“Rex’s confidence in Mildura is a welcome boost to both business and tourism. 

“The Victorian Coalition Government investment with Mildura Airport Pty Ltd to upgrade the airport terminal has acted as an investment catalyst to businesses wishing to invest in aviation services to Mildura and Rex has responded with the reintroduction of these services. 

“The Coalition increased it’s initial $3M for the airport to $5M to ensure a prompt start to the upgrade project. 

“This excellent news for the Mildura region and I welcome today’s announcement.” Mr Crisp stated.

Mildura Airport will undergo a multi-million expansion with the help of a $3 million Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Government grant, Acting Premier and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan said today.

Mr Ryan, who today attended the launch of the Mildura Airport Terminal Building Redevelopment Concept Plan in Mildura, said the Coalition’s local pre-election commitments remained a priority of the new government.

"The $5.85 million redevelopment scheduled for completion by mid-2012 will include an expanded world-class terminal to accommodate increasing passenger numbers and ensure tourism in the region can continue to grow," Mr Ryan said.

"This is a critical infrastructure project for the Sunraysia region, as Mildura is the largest and busiest regional airport in Victoria, catering for around 215,000 passengers per year."

Mr Ryan said the Mildura passenger terminal was being pushed to capacity during peak periods and required expanding to allow for continuing growth in passenger numbers.

"The Mildura airport is an asset to the region, serving as a gateway to the tourist destinations of Mildura, the Murray River and outback," he said.

Mr Ryan said the terminal concept plan was a key component of the recommendations from the recently formulated Mildura Masterplan.

"The Coalition Government strongly supports the concept plan which has been developed by the Board of Mildura Airport," Mr Ryan said.

"The Victorian Government funding for the airport’s upgrade will be provided through the Coalition’s $1 billion Regional Growth Fund.

"The Regional Growth Fund provides flexible funding to support the building and upgrading of local services and infrastructure and creation of jobs across regional and rural regions during the next eight years," Mr Ryan said.