PAID parking at Wagga Airport will come into effect in two weeks and high-level passenger screening and security to match those currently found in capital cities is also being introduced.
From February 2 residents will have to pay to park their car at the airport as Wagga City Council opens up a new revenue stream and seeks to clamp down on people leaving their car on site for extended periods.
“Many vehicles (are) left in the airport car park on a long-term basis – in some cases many weeks – which impacts on the availability of spaces for pick-up and drop-off requirements,” said manager of council businesses Grant Johnson.
Residents will also no longer be able to drop off and pick up passengers from directly in front of the terminal.
The move will put greater emphasis on taxis or the use of Wagga Shuttle, which provides one-way trips to the airport for $30 for one person, or more for larger groups.
And by July 1, walk-through metal detectors, random explosives screening, x-ray for baggage and an isolated “clean” area will be introduced as part of a new security boost at the airport. The move is being enforced by the federal government and comes from recommendations in the aviation white paper.
It will mean a new layout at the airport and potentially longer waiting times for passengers who will be subject to the new processes.
Mayor Kerry Pascoe has also warned it could mean higher flight prices as new costs are passed on to the airlines.
“Essentially the equipment that’s being installed is the same as at Sydney and Melbourne,” said airport manager Stephen Prowse.
Not all of the 215,000-plus passengers who use the airport each year will be subject to the new security, with some smaller flights exempt from the screening, said Mr Prowse.
Passengers arriving at the airport won’t be subject to any screening.
The federal government is funding the purchase of the new equipment, but it will be up to Wagga City Council to pay for the installation and staff to operate it.
These costs haven’t been revealed.
Mayor Kerry Pascoe warned that as council shoulders the cost of staff and maintenance, these would likely be passed on to airlines.
“One thing which worries me is higher flight costs,” he said.
“One thing we have been really proud of over a period of time is that Rex and Qantas have kept their flight charges to a pretty good rate.”
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