The City of Busselton is soliciting support from other south-west Western Australian areas, in its bid for federal funding to upgrade its airport to international standards.
The city’s community and commercial services director, Naomi Searle, said the airport’s third application, due this month, would focus on freight, rather than building a passenger terminal.
She said this change in focus is supported by other local governments in the area.
“The previous two funding applications were based on regular public transport services for international destinations…….. we’ve had a change of focus now, to really focus on international freight rather than those international passenger services,” she said.
“It is primarily focusing on freight, so accessing international freight markets for more premium products and those more perishable products, so your abalone, your marron.
“The city believes there’s a lot of demand in South-East Asian markets for premium south-west Western Australian products.”