Debrief

Mackay International

No sooner had the ink dried on the sale contract than the Mackay Mercury ran the perennial international airport push article. Yet just six jet minutes north the fate of the (still) non existent Laguna Quays International and further north Proserpine, which fears being dumped, remain in limbo, as does a greenfield international site north of both. The Queensland Government promised a decision by December but now has bigger worries, as China sneezes, foreign protectionism looms and money dries up.

Hamilton Island, which is a few minutes from each of the above, was built to take limited international movements but has only ever attracted a handful of international charters, and remains fed by domestic links and high speed boats. The reality escaping all is that not one viable international airport has emerged in the region, let alone three.