Airport sell off - CNS & MKY

[Platy]

The QLD state government has announced selling off both Cairns and Mackay Airports to fund hospitals in the respective locations. Both are currently managed through Port Authority entities.

Cairns.com.au - Airport to fund new hospital

Many will already know that CNS is already undergoing a major $200 million expansion, hence other discusisons on the temp QP!

 

[NM]

According to local media reports, they also plan to include the state government's 12% stake in BNE in the selling process.

 

[JohnK]

Mackay airport was sold yesterday for over $200m.

Mackay airport sells for more than $200m

What are governments going to do when they run out of land and businesses to sell?

 

[drron]

The unions signed off on the airport deals on October 29.
The tenders for CNS have just closed.Here is some speculation-
Airport owner targets Cairns International - Local Business News - Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
It is interesting that the article suggests a price of $350 million whereas in April $450 million was mentioned.

 

[Groundfeeder]

Not sure why Cairns Airport would be such a good purchase. Looking at the plan, approx 40-50% of the land is wetland subject to mangroves and woe betide any fool in the Wet Tropics who tries to remove mangroves (speaking as an EPA man). However thinking logically, the Feds tend to override State laws with ease (eg: BNE airport commercial development & impact on traffic:evil
There doesn't seem to be much room for development potential as the highway restricts extension to the west, unless runway 30/12 is abandoned.
Since when did these little obstructions get in the way of a dollar?

 

[medhead]

CNS does have the whole GA area for expansion. Basically the old airport. Great advertisement for Cairns walking into a tin shed to catch a DC3.

Just buy up some worthless cane farm and build a new GA airport. take out Aeroglen and a bit of Stratford and move the highway west.

 

[docjames]

And now watch as taxes and charges go up ($30/hr carparking anyone??)