MACKAY AIRPORT SOLD FOR $208M, TO FUND BASE HOSPITAL
22 November 2008
Owen Jacques
All funds to go directly into building new hospital
THE new Mackay Base Hospital is one step closer after the Mackay Airport was yesterday sold for $208 million – week sooner than planned.
An Australian consortium including The Infrastructure Fund, which owns 33 per cent of Queensland Airports Limited, made the highest bid for our prized piece of infrastructure.
Queensland treasurer Andrew Fraser said the money from the sale would be channelled directly into Mackay’s new Base Hospital.
“This is a great result for the people of the Mackay region and an excellent outcome for the future of health services in the area,” he said.
“We haven’t waited until the sale to start the ball rolling on this project –instead we provisioned money in the budget to start preliminary work.
“This hospital is absolutely essential not only for the current Mackay residents but also to support future population growth.”
Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin said he went to a meeting with the hospital’s management yesterday and was told the redevelopment was “progressing well”
“The new Mackay hospital is being built at a budgeted cost of more than $405 million, as part of the Mackay Health master plan,” Mr Mulherin said. “the sale is a vote of confidence in the future of Mackay.”
The Mackay Base Hospital will also be funded by the sale of the Queensland Government’s stake in Brisbane Airport, which sold for $289.4 million earlier this month and the future sale of Cairns Airport.
The treasurer said the winning consortium had a history of successful airport operations in regional Queensland, including Gold Coast, Townsville and Mount Isa airports.
“This is a great outcome for Queensland taxpayers, particularly in the current economic climate, and reflects the quality and growth prospects of Mackay Airport,” Mr Fraser said.
“Under the terms of the sale agreement, the airport will operate under a long-term lease from the state, which will continue to own the land and airport infrastructure.
“I congratulate the consortium on the success of their bid and I am confident in their ability to grow the airport for the benefit of the tourism and mining industries, other business travellers and the people of Mackay,” he said.
The Daily Mercury
www.dailymercury.com.au Copyright 2008 APN Newspapers Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved
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