Qld govt scraps far north Queensland airport upgrade

31/07/2012 - The Queensland government has axed the upgrade of a far north Queensland airport, saying the state can't afford the project.

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The former Labor government committed $13 million for the upgrade of Mareeba Airport in 2010, with the stated aim of turning it into the far north's second air service centre after Cairns.

But Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney axed the upgrade on Monday, saying the project would stop after the first stage — drainage works and a design brief — were completed this year.

"Projects like this were being paid for with borrowed money by the failed Bligh government," Seeney said.

He said the Tablelands Regional Council would be reimbursed for work already completed.

Federal MP Bob Katter said the state government was "sacrificing regional Queensland" to fund pet projects in Brisbane.

"The former Brisbane City Mayor (Campbell Newman) who now heads up this state's LNP (Liberal National Party) government needs to come clean on just how much he intends to strip from the very regions he declared so important," Katter said.

Source: AAP

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