What if Clive Palmer wanted to buy the Rockhampton airport? Would Council make public the offer? How would the Rockhampton region ratepayers respond if Council was to? What if it was a situation of Clive buying either Rockhampton or Whitsunday airport with the intention to develop one of them as a base for FIFO workers to his Galilee Basin coal mine? As well as push for the airport to be granted international status to enable overseas workers on 457 visa’s to fly direct in and out of (which can result in the workers family moving to the city). To help the regions unemployed youth Clive offered a significant number jobs at the Galilee mine if they successfully completed training and induction courses which he would pay for. And if Clive was successful in gaining international status for the airport he would help in getting direct flights in and out of China to tap into the growing middle class ready to see and spend around the world, including the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland outback. If such an offer was to be made should Council accept it? Of course if Clive did buy the airport and implemented the above plans the value of the airport should significantly increase, making the initial cash outlay look underpriced. But without Clive’s input would the value of the airport increased?
An unlikely scenario, what if you were to substitute Clive Palmers name for Gina Rinehart!
The Mayor of Whitsunday Regional Council has made it known that they want an international airport (and casino), actively looking for ways to achieve it, including a trip to China. Rockhampton Regional Council is making some noises about FIFO opportunities for the airport, the Galilee Basin appears to be the objective. If we miss this opportunity (assuming it does eventuate) what is the next one and how far away (in time and distance) will it be. There’s been no talk of Council selling (or not selling) the airport for some time now; are they pro-actively exploring all the options in making Rockhampton (airport) a FIFO base and the future benefits that it may provide the economy, including selling it. Be also interesting to keep an eye on what is happening in the Whitsundays.